Agelaius phoeniceus
displaying male
The Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar and distinctive songbird. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males are largely black but have a bold red “shoulder” patch that is edged with yellow in some populations. In winter, the black feathers have subtle brown margins that wear off with time. Adult females are gray-brown and heavily streaked; the plumage is palest (and usually tinged pinkish buff) on the throat, and the head has a pale supercilium. Immature males are similar to a winter adult male but with more extensive brown edging to the feathers. Immature females recall an adult female but lack the pinkish-buff tinge to the throat.
The Red-winged Blackbird is present year-round across the southern half of North America. In spring, the breeding range extends north to the edge of the Arctic, and the winter range extends south to Central America. Outside the breeding season the species forms huge flocks.
female
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 8.75 in (22 cm)
FOOD Mainly seeds, with invertebrates in spring and summer
HABITAT Farmland and marshy grassland
STATUS Widespread and very common, in the north in summer but present year-round in the south
VOICE Song is a series of harsh screeches. Call is a sharp tchik
