A male red-winged blackbird shows off his distinctive markings.
1. Females often lay three or four pale blue-green eggs, accented with black, brown and purple markings.
2. The species, one of the most abundant in all of North America, has experienced a decrease in population over the past 40 years.
3. Male red-winged blackbirds can’t commit. They juggle as many as 15 female mates.
4. There are two reasons males flash their scarlet field marks, hunch their shoulders forward, and spread their tails: to mark their territory or to impress a mate.
5. Red-winged blackbirds leave the nest 11 to 14 days after birth.
6. True snowbirds, red-winged blackbirds travel as many as 800 miles south for the winter.
7. Carolus Linneaus, a Swedish scientist, gave the red-wing its scientific name, Agelaius phoenicus, in 1766. The name comes from the Greek words for flocking and red.
Rene says
Wow,what are the brown birds that travel with them? Is that the female? They come to Texas Pasadena Around Spring to winter and they leave before it gets to hot. One usually hangs around for a while ,slone then we don’t see them untill next fall
Kelly says
Yes brown birds with same looking beak are the females.
Linda Beckman says
I know Spring is truly here when I hear the call of the male red-winged blackbirds.
Donna says
Where do you live? I live in Massachusetts and I haven’t seen any.
Jeanne ODell says
They came here as they have been eating at my feeders and now they must regret it because of the 2 ft of snow, blowing winds and with windchill around 0 degrees. 3 days now and I have been putting extra food out and more times a day for all of the birds during this tough time.
Jeanne ODell says
I forgot to put Western, NY
Tina Fritch says
I live in Kansas and have as many as 6 to 8 of them now at my feeders. Guess mine don’t want to leave home.
Donna says
Lucky duck!
Judy Bordeaux says
I had 3 males and 2 females
enjoy 3 days at my bird feeder. Hope they come back thru.
South Carolina
Carol says
What do you put in the feeders for them?
Phila, PA
margaret says
Many didn’t seem to leave this winter.
Jennifer says
These birds have an entire orchestra as soon as the sun goes down. I hardly ever see them during the day. They start popping up in the evening and by dark they are lined up in the trees, brush, power lines that run down the side of neighbors pond! Beautiful birds!
Kelly says
Yes the females are brown.
Mac says
Many thousands of them eat up our crops.
Jeanne ODell says
and probably die from the pesticides.
E says
Hate to be appear negative…..but…so tired of this attitude…
Just like the battle between ranchers and wolves…..wolf eats a few sheep and you would think they need file for bankruptcy….
Get over it!
Nina says
Yes, they do.
Karen says
The female Red-winged Blackbirds are medium-brown, speckled with light beige flecks throughout their plumage. I saw one at my feeder last month & wasn’t sure what it was so I looked it up on my Merlin Bird ID app & sure enough, it was a female Red-Winged Blackbird! My bet for their decline is because of the brown-headed cowbird which are parasitic birds that lay their eggs in other birds nests. Then they hatch, often killing the other nestlings & the parents raise the cowbird. Even more diabolical, the cowbird parents watch & if the birds push their egg out of the nest, they’ll come & utterly destroy it!! I’ve seen it happen at my own home!!
Connie Cameron says
I have 20+ in my front yard enjoying my feeders. They come through each winter and share feeders with the Finches and Doves. They gather in my tree out front and let me know when the food is low. LOL.
Shelly says
When I see them in September or October in Phoenix, I know that the wicked summer heat will pass soon.
D says
I live in Indiana, and the males are already starting to arrive – middle of February!! Another fun-fact not mentioned… Red-wing males appear first, with females arriving a couple of weeks later.
Karen says
I live on the Yakima River in Washington state and I love hearing the Red Wing Blackbirds in the spring all along the river. The only bad thing is when the crows come and attack and kill their babies. Crows are growing in population and I see why. Wish something could be done about the problem.
Sylvia says
I have seen a few Red-Wing Blackbirds here in early Feb. in northeast, TN but they seem to mostly be passing through and yes, the crows will show up anytime, but then all I do is move my hand at the window and they take off. I get cardinals all year round and hundred of gold finches too, also purple and house finches year round too. Some in the feeders and others on the ground and a least 3 species of woodpecker and nuthatches-that’s a lot of seed to buy. I keep 2 birdbaths and use heaters a few nights during winter when it might freeze, and have to do a lot of cleaning and scrubbing throughout he summer especially..
Paul Caverly says
Feb. 27th we had a single male at our feeder. We are located just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Judy says
I have bulrushes along the lake in front of my house which the blackbirds love to nest in.
After the eggs are laid the male can be seen attacking crows and other birds trying or get at the eggs. Dartmouth N.S.
Jolyne says
I love to watch these birds when they come back each year. They are so pretty.
Laura says
I live in Indiana and last week a red wing landed on my backyard feeders. I never had that happen before. Does anyone know what it would have been stopping by to eat? He checked out each feeder, so I wasn’t sure. When I was little the males would appear over my head while I rode my bike and dive bomb me. I would run into the house yelling to my mom, the birds are attacking me.
Gary says
Males arrive in the north 3-4 weeks ahead of females and stake out a territory…
Lisa says
What do they prefer to eat?
Nina says
Anything.
Nancy Lane says
I was impressed to learn that the baby birds leave the nest so soon after “HATCHING” .
Jan Drapikowski says
They hog all the bird food from our small birds and red cardinals. Would love to see our other ones back!
RHONDA NOWAK says
They will eat anything and everything! I’ve heard they take over the feeders, and boy do they!!! But, I feed everyone, and usually mid summer they move on to ?? who knows. But, they empty my feeders almost daily. I am in a Chicago Suburb
Margaret says
I live in Utah and had one as a pet, that had been rescued and could not be returned to the wild. It was a male and he was quite a character and could mimic several words. Had him for about 7 years and truly enjoyed his flashing me the red on his wings and in the spring him getting more vocal. Truly beautiful birds. Sure do miss my poopy bird.
Lew Hughes says
They were a common, daily visitor to my yard (Kansas City area) prior to Hurricane Katrina … Since that storm, I’ve seen only two in KC … I’m guessing many were killed during that storm ???
Mary Yunker says
Grew up in southern
CA, loved seeing and hearing them.
Heather says
Yeah they come with my grackles and the other black birds. I love the bright red patch, though my mockingbird hates them and does everything he can to annoy them out of here.
Caroll Marston says
There are several here every morning in southport, NC raiding my feeders, competing with the cardinals. And yes, they eat anything and everything!!
Sharon N. says
There are several here in Kentucky at my feeders. They are beautiful and noisy!