Agelaius phoeniceus
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is an iconic and abundant passerine belonging to the family Icteridae, which includes other New World blackbirds and orioles. Males are striking, sporting a glossy black plumage contrasted by brilliant scarlet shoulder patches, or "epaulets," typically bordered with a band of yellow. These epaulets, which can be concealed or flashed during display, are the primary distinguishing field mark. Females, in stark contrast, are heavily streaked brown a...
Primarily inhabits freshwater and saltwater marshes, wet meadows, and agricultural fields. Prefers areas with dense emergent vegetation, typically found at low to moderate elevations.
Their diet primarily consists of insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season, transitioning to seeds, grains, and some fruit in fall and winter. They forage by gleaning from plants and the ground, and by probing in mud.
Red-winged Blackbirds are diurnal, often forming immense communal roosts outside the breeding season, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Foraging typically involves gleaning insects from vegetation or probing in moist soil for grubs and seeds. Males are fiercely territorial during ...
The Red-winged Blackbird boasts an expansive distribution across North America, breeding from southeastern Alaska and central Canada south throughout most of the contiguous United States, Mexico, and into parts of Central America. Northern breeding populations are migratory, moving south for the ...
Least Concern
- Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most abundant bird species in North America, with estimated populations often exceeding 100 million individuals. - Male Red-winged Blackbirds can conceal their bright red shoulder patches (epaulets) at will, revealing them only during territorial displays or...