Agelaius phoeniceus
Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged Blackbirds are
one of our most recognizable birds; at least the males
are. Both males and females
grow to almost 10 inches, but males are black with bright
red shoulder patches. Small yellow stripes border the red.
Females are very plain brown with streaks. Red-winged Blackbirds are
most common in marshes
and swamps, but you will also see them in fields
and meadows. In the Fall, blackbirds
will form flocks
of thousands, along with birds of other species. These
flocks will fly around making great noise as they
feed. Red-winged Blackbirds are
most commonly seen perching on cattails during the
breeding
season. Copyright, Peter
LaTourrette, http://birdphotography.com Copyright, David
Blevins The breeding
season for Red-winged Blackbirds goes from February
to August. Males have territories
which they guard from other males. To court
females, male blackbirds chase them. Sometimes,
several males chase one female at the same
time. When a pair of
blackbirds is matched up, they will build a nest.
Nests are cup-shaped and made of marsh grasses or
reeds attached to cattails or rushes. Sometimes
they will build it in a shrub. Each pair of
blackbirds will raise two or three broods
in a season, building a new nest each time. This
probably keeps nests from getting infested with
parasites
which could kill baby birds. Three to five
pale blue eggs are laid in a nest. Eggs are spotted
with brown or purple. Peter Weber,
www.wildbirdphotos.com
Red-winged Blackbirds eat
mostly insects, including dragonflies, damselflies, other flies,
beetles, butterflies, and moths, as well as other invertebrates, such
as spiders. They catch insects on plants, off the ground, and from
the air. In the winter, they switch to mostly grains.
Red-winged Blackbirds often war with Marsh Wrens who share the same territiories and food supply. Both species will eat each other's eggs.
Other predators of blackbirds include Raccoons, snakes, crows, owls, hawks, and Red Foxes.
Some parasites of Red-winged Blackbirds include blood-sucking flies, lice, and mites.
When breeding season is over, Red-winged Blackbirds join enormous flocks, often mixed with Grackles, European Starlings, and Cowbirds. The flocks fly in great numbers, searching for food.
Copyright, John White
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Relationships in Nature:
Marsh Wren EC Great Horned Owl Marsh Wren
Relationship to Humans:
Red-winged Blackbirds help people by controlling insect populations. Their song is also considered very pleasant to listen to by many people. Others consider them a pest; when they are in great flocks they can disturb farms.