Red-winged Blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
Adult Male
Photo: Ron Austing
SIZE : 7 - 9.5 inches long
DESCRIPTION : Male - Black all over with red epaulettes on shoulders with a yellow bar under the red patch.
Female - Brownish top, tan with brown streaks on chest and belly;tan eye-line
PREFERRED HABITAT: Fields, marshes, woods edges
PREFERRED FOOD : Insects, seeds, grains
Prefer to feed on the ground, but will also use elevated feeders that accommodate their size.
Handsome birds, but a mixed blessing at the feeder, as they are aggressive and voracious.
They will eat everything: cracked corn, millet, raisins, apples, dog food, sunflower, etc.
BREEDING RANGE : Newfoundland west to Alaska, south to Mexico, and east to Florida.
WINTER RANGE : Southern New England, west to British Columbia, south to South America
INTERESTING FACTS: Very gregarious birds, nesting in loose colonies of a few pairs to hundreds
Aggressive and ruthless. In spite of sociability, will tenaciously defend the few cubic
yards around their nest against birds of other species or mammals.
Many birds will dive at humans in defense of their nests. Red-winged blackbirds will actually
strike and will band together to do it!
Song is a squeaky, 'kong-ka-ree'.