 |
The
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, is a passerine
bird of the family Icteridae, found in most of North America.
These birds breed from Alaska and Newfoundland south to
Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and central Mexico, and winter
as far north as Pennsylvania and British Columbia. The
common name is taken from the male bird's distinctive
red shoulder patches, or "epaulets", which are
visible when the bird is flying or displaying. At rest,
the male shows a paler yellow wingbar against a black
background. The female is an inconspicuous shade of brown.
The adult birds are from 7 to 9.5 inches (17 to 24 cm)
long, and have distinctive sharp bills. They feed primarily
on plant seeds, including weeds and waste grain, but about
a quarter of their diet consists of insects, spiders,
mollusks and other small animals. In season, they eat
blueberries, blackberries, and other fruit. They can be
lured to backyard bird feeders by bread and seed mixtures. |
|
|
When
migrating north, these birds travel in single-sex flocks,
and the males usually arrive a few days before the females.
Once they have reached the location where they plan to
breed, the males stake out territories by singing. They
defend their territory aggressively, both against other
male Red-winged Blackbirds and against birds they perceive
as threatening, including crows, Osprey, and hawks. Red-winged
Blackbirds prefer marshes, but will nest near any body
of water. Pairs raise two or three clutches per season,
in a new nest for each clutch. The nests are cups of vegetation,
and are either built in shrubs or attached to marsh grass.
Three to five eggs are laid at a time. They are incubated
by the female and hatch in 11-12 days. Red-winged blackbirds
are born blind and naked, but are ready to leave the nest
ten days after they hatch. |
|
