Red-winged Blackbird

Uploaded on Jul 12, 2010

The Music of Nature proudly presents "Red-winged Blackbird," a delicious video portrait of a male in full song. The Red-winged Blackbird is common across North America, Breeding in marshes and meadows. Excited males puff out their red epaulets (shoulder pads) as they sing.

© 2010 Lang Elliott
musicofnature.org

Published on Jun 15, 2012

The Red-winged Blackbird is abundant throughout North America. It migrates from Canada to United States for winter. It breeds in thick vegetation of marshes, brushy swamps, sloughs dry fields; forages in hayfields, orchards, woodlands.

The male is an all black bird with a bright red shoulder patch, often bordered with yellow. The female or immature males are a dark brown above and heavily streaked below. They may show a red patch on the wing or shoulder or a pink wash on throat.

The song is a harbinger of spring. It's a distinctive "konk-ah-LEEEE!" and a "chack" call.

Uploaded on Apr 15, 2010

An up-close look at the territorial displays and Breeding behavior of the Red-winged Blackbird. Learn more about Red-winged Blackbirds on All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id

Uploaded on Sep 10, 2010

Transcript: "The Red-Winged Blackbird is found throughout most of North and Central America. Northern populations of the species are migratory.

Males and females look different. The male is mostly black with a distinct red shoulder and yellow wingbar. The female has a brown woodsy, speckled look. These Blackbirds are polygynous. A male will defend up to 10 females in its territory.

These birds prefer wetlands and open grassy areas. Their nests can be found in the cattails, rushes, grasses and bushes. Each clutch will consist of around three or four eggs. The females incubate the eggs and the babies hatch within 11-12 days.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds and insects."

Uploaded on Aug 21, 2007

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/emobirds/

A stake-out requires being inconspicuous, but not so for red-winged blackbirds.

Showing off and making noise is the main objective of their stake-out.

Male red-winged blackbirds have already staked-out their territories in wetlands and around ponds and lakes.

Their red-and-yellow shoulder patches add glints of color to the dull landscape.

And male red-wings don't hesitate to show their colors.

When other birds invade the red-wing's territory, he spreads his tail, droops his wings, and lets out the gurgling Song. (nat)

In February and March, male red-wings come north from their southern wintering grounds and find good spots for nesting and feeding.

They are probably our most numerous songbird.