Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult male
- Black overall
- Red shoulder with yellow border
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult female
- Brown and streaky overall
- Thick dark streaks on breast
- Buff or orangish throat
- Sharply pointed conical bill
- © Matt MacGillivray, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 2008
Red-winged Blackbird
Immature male
- Overall black with buff or orange edges to feathers
- Yellow on shoulder, may show some red
- Conical, pointed bill
- © Darin Ziegler, CO, Colorado Springs, October 2008
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult male
- Black with red and yellow shoulder
- Moderate length tail
- © Laura Erickson, May 2005
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult female
- Streaked, brown back
- Moderate length tail
- Conical, sharply pointed bill
- © rainriver, WA, Ridgefield, April 2007
Red-winged Blackbird
Fledgling
- Overall dark with rufous edging, similar to female
- May show bare skin on face, yellow gape
- © vidular, IL, Ontarioville, July 2008
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult male
- Red shoulder with yellow border
- Black overall
- © Ted Schroeder
Red-winged Blackbird
Immature male
- Overall black with buff or orange edges to feathers
- Yellow on shoulder, may show some red
- © Richard Lee
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult female
- Brown and streaky overall
- Dark streaks on breast
- Buff or orangish throat
- Sharply pointed bill
- © Judy Howle
Red-winged Blackbird
Adult male
- Red on shoulder may be hidden
- © Linda Salter
Similar Species
Adult male
- Similar to male Red-winged Blackbird
- Glossy overall (may show blue, green, and purple)
- Yellow eye
- No red shoulder
- © Laura Erickson, Santa Barbara, CA, August 2005
Adult eastern form
- Similar to female or immature Red-winged Blackbird
- Much smaller, with paler underparts
- Stouter, less pointed bill
- Dark streaks on pale breast often show dark spot in center
- © Ed Schneider, White Creek, TN, October 2008
Adult male
- Similar to male Red-winged Blackbird
- No red shoulder
- Brown head
- Shorter tail
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Adult male
- Similar to male Red-winged Blackbird
- Glossy overall (may show blue, green, and purple), no red shoulder
- Yellow eye
- Large size, very long, large tail
- Large, heavy bill
- © Jim Gilbert, NJ, October 2008
Adult breeding
- Similar to adult male Red-winged Blackbird
- Glossy black overall (may appear purple, green, or blue)
- Long, thin, yellowish bill; pink legs
- Often with pale spots all over
- No red shoulder
- © Sam Wilson, Scottsdale, AZ, April 2008