Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

The Red-winged Blackbird is a cheerful bird with shiny black feathers and bright red shoulder patches. They love to sing and can often be found near wetlands and ponds.

Habitat: Wetlands and marshes

Appearance

The Red-winged Blackbird male is glossy black with striking bright red shoulder patches, bordered in yellow. Females are streaky brown with lighter underparts and a faint reddish hue on their shoulders, appearing much duller than males.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyIcteridaeGenusAgelaius

Red-winged Blackbird

Interesting facts

A single male Red-winged Blackbird can have up to 15 female mates in one breeding season!

Baby blackbirds, called fledglings, leave their nests just 10-14 days after hatching.

During winter, Red-winged Blackbirds gather in enormous flocks, sometimes thousands strong!

These birds weave their cup-shaped nests into cattails, often directly over shallow water for safety.

Special abilities

Red-winged Blackbirds can fiercely defend their nests from much larger threats, because of their bravery, helping protect their young.

Red-winged Blackbirds can snatch insects mid-air and pluck seeds from tall grasses, showcasing agile flight for diverse food.

Red-winged Blackbirds have a loud, distinctive 'conk-la-ree!' song that helps them declare territory and attract mates.

Measurements & details

Length: 17-23 cm
Wingspan: 30-37 cm
Weight: 0.032-0.077 kg
Lifespan: 2-6 years
Top Speed: 45 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-4
Incubation: 11-13 days
Migration Distance: 1000 km

Diet & Feeding

These omnivores enjoy a varied diet of insects, spiders, seeds, and grains.

Primary Foods

Insects
Spiders
Seeds
Grains
Berries

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

shelters

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Provides crucial nesting sites woven into its stalks.

eats

Corn

Zea mays

Feeds on grains from agricultural fields, especially corn.

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

A common raptor that preys on adult blackbirds.

eaten by

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Known to raid nests for eggs and young nestlings.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.