“Red-Wing” Red-winged Blackbird If you visit a marsh in the spring or summer, you are likely to see and hear the Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, affectionately called “Red-Wing”. These birds are often found near their nests, perching on a cattail… or on the ground foraging for insects and seeds… This sleek black bird presents a very elegant profile… The fiercely territorial male spends much of the breeding season on some perch high above his territory, singing his heart out. His role is to protect his mates (as many as 15 females), who build their nests near the ground in dense marsh vegetation or grasses. Here are various views of males in action… Note the variations in how much of the red and yellow shoulder patch is visible. The Red-Wing can either show full red as a warning to other males or he can hide the red color entirely, leaving just a yellow fringe when he’s resting. Variations in Red-Wing’s shoulder patch Although the Red-Wing males are easy to identify, females are not. I’ve often been baffled when seeing the female around the wetlands, assuming it’s another species such as a sparrow. Look at how radically different the female looks… Female Red-Winged Blackbird Of course, there’s a reason for her drab and streaked plumage. It offers protection from predators, making her less conspicuous among the grasses and cattails around her nest that’s low to the ground. Female Red-Wing The female Red-Wing is also smaller in size compared to the male. To distinguish her from a sparrow (below), you need to notice her distinctive blackbird beak, a feature identical to that of the male Red-Wing … Female Red-Wing Song Sparrow Here’s a young bird foraging for food… Juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird Each year in the fall as breeding ends, Red-Winged Blackbirds form large flocks with other species of blackbirds, grackles, and starlings. They leave the marshes and move into agricultural fields and other grasslands in search of food. Here’s a male in October, resting for a moment… Red-Wing in Fall Colors Occasionally, birds of this species will visit a backyard feeder… One more look at the Red-Wing, a year-round resident in coastal North Carolina, and two of it’s close relatives often found in the same coastal wetlands… Orchard Oriole Meadowlark Here are other photo-blogs on similar birds: The Birds of Black >> The Elusive Meadowlark >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation King of Birds? Eastern KingbirdFishing Drama (Great Blue Heron)