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Main Species

Red-winged Blackbird

  • Red-winged Blackbird Breeding male (Red-winged)
    Breeding male (Red-winged)

    Stocky, broad-shouldered blackbird with a slender, conical bill. Males have a red shoulder patch bordered in yellow.

    © Phil Kahler | Macaulay LibraryOregon, May 13, 2017
  • Red-winged Blackbird Female (Red-winged)
    Female (Red-winged)

    Stocky, broad-shouldered blackbird with a slender, conical bill. Females are brown and heavily streaked overall with a yellowish wash around the bill.

    © David Trescak | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, March 05, 2017
  • Breeding male (Red-winged)

    Displaying males sit on cattails and other high perches, spreading their wings and puffing out their shoulder patches while singing and calling.

    © Tim Laman | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 19, 2009
    Not all videos have sound
  • Red-winged Blackbird Nonbreeding male (Red-winged)
    Nonbreeding male (Red-winged)

    Nonbreeding males often look scaly and have incomplete red shoulder patches.

    © Scott Martin | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 12, 2017
  • Red-winged Blackbird Breeding male (California Bicolored)
    Breeding male (California Bicolored)

    Males in California lack the yellow border on the red shoulder patch.

    © Steve Kelling | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 19, 2016
  • Female (Red-winged)

    Often seen on the ground foraging or gathering nesting material. Females look very different from males, but have the same long, pointed bill and stocky stature. This video has no audio.

    © Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 01, 1997
    Not all videos have sound
  • Red-winged Blackbird Female (California Bicolored)
    Female (California Bicolored)

    Female birds in California often have more cinnamon tones to their feathers and dark undertail coverts with less streaking.

    © Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 03, 2016
  • Red-winged Blackbird Breeding male (Mexican Bicolored)
    Breeding male (Mexican Bicolored)

    Birds breeding in Mexico lack the yellow border to the red shoulder patch.

    © Anuar López | Macaulay LibraryMéxico, August 03, 2016
  • Breeding male (Red-winged)

    In addition to the male's "conk-la-ree" song, males and females make several calls including a harsh "check" note and a high, thin whistle.

    © Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 01, 2008
    Not all videos have sound
  • Red-winged Blackbird Breeding male (Red-winged)
    Breeding male (Red-winged)

    Males spend much of the breeding season sitting on a high perch over their territories and singing their hearts out.

    © Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 08, 2014
  • Red-winged Blackbird Breeding male (Red-winged)
    Breeding male (Red-winged)

    Males display by holding their wings out to show off the red shoulder patches.

    © Jonathan Eckerson | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 25, 2017
  • Flock

    Forms large flocks in winter in marshes and open habitats, sometimes with other blackbird species.

    © Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, February 28, 2012
    Not all videos have sound
  • Red-winged Blackbird Female (Red-winged)
    Female (Red-winged)

    Breeds in wetlands.

    © Lewnanny Richardson | Macaulay LibraryNew Brunswick, July 07, 2016
  • Red-winged Blackbird Flock
    Flock

    Flocks in the thousands with other blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds, and starlings.

    © Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 01, 2014
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