Detailed information on Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

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Chillybean

(Zone 5a) | February 2015 | Positive

This bird was one of the first we identified after moving to Iowa. They seem to have fairly small breeding territories, with a male bird perched on every other post or so. After they leave in the fall, I miss their "honk-er-ees" , but every spring they return.

During migration, we get hordes, but rarely do they take over the feeders for long, at least in our experience. They also forage for bugs on the ground and in the trees. It is interesting, the males forage on the ground and the females up in the trees gleaning bugs from the small branches.

We did have a slightly aggressive male one dry summer. They prefer nesting near water, but that year there was not much around. He claimed a spot near our duck coop, so every time someone went out to tend to th... read more

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geneva_illinois

Geneva, IL | October 2012 | Negative

I live next door to a wetland that was planted with cattails a few years ago. The Red-winged Blackbirds have come by the hundreds and nest there. I watch these aggressive birds chase away the desirable birds such as finches, swallows, catbirds and cedar waxwings. The Blackbirds increase in number yearly. They empty bird feeders in an hour and chase away other birds in my bird bath. They have become a problem because they reduce the diversity of bird species.

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audsrz

Traverse City, MI (Zone 5a) | December 2010 | Positive

Living in a region blessed with so much fresh water, we have cattails growing in nearly every roadside ditch. Hardly a mile can you travel without the distinctive call and seeing nests under construction every spring.

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Sheryll52

Avon Park, FL | June 2010 | Neutral

I moved to Central Florida from Miami, hence , I didnt see much wildlife till I got here. When I first started my feeders, there was one, then two. I was initially excited however, they quickly multiplied and made it difficult for the cardinals, woodpeckers, finches, and bluebirds to eat. They are beautiful but they also attract those darn grackles which are numerous in Miami. Sorry to say I dont hate them but they are very hungry.

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merigold

Sioux City, IA (Zone 4b) | June 2010 | Neutral

This is a bird that we never see in the city. We tend to see them along the roadside in fields.

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gardeningfun

Harpersfield, OH (Zone 5a) | April 2010 | Positive

We have one of these birds in our yard every day. He is so pleasant and chirps a lot. He sits in the same tree each day and if disturbed, simply flies to the next pine tree and sits there for a while. I love the red and yellow wings! They are just beautiful. Once in a while he is joined by a couple other blackbirds. I believe he built a nest in our pine trees, but am not sure and don't want to disturb them.

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Martin_Taylor

Mountain Home, AR (Zone 6b) | March 2010 | Negative

Same as plantladylin from (Zone 9b):

I see these birds in our area during the winter months and early spring, coming in waves with the flocks of Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds and Starlings.

The combinations of the above wipe out our feeders, leaving nothing for the Cardinals, Juncos, Goldfinches, Blacked-Capped Chickadees. At least, the Blue Jays and Nuthatches have alternate food sources, rather than grains.

I remember growing up in Alabama, they were not like this.

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plantladylin

(Zone 1) | February 2010 | Neutral

We see these birds in our area during the winter months, usually with flocks of Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds.

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BajaBlue

Rancho Santa Rita, TX (Zone 8a) | February 2010 | Positive

As a child I lived in the Rio Grande
Valley (far south tip ) of Texas,
Tropical to sub-tropical area, and
a recognized popuar interntional
f;uway for migrting wild birds.
\
These birds could be seen hordes
descenting on fallow fields, I as-
sume searching for seeds or
possibly insects.

Now all these years later, we live
in North Texas we see the red
wings later in the winter although
probably during approximately
the same climate and weather
conditions (cloudy cold windy)

For us they are harbingers of
spring, an even earlier sign
of the hope ot spring, more
so than evem the robins arriv/al
later in winter/early spring.
... read more

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Ohioborn

Patriot, IN | February 2010 | Neutral

Three of these fellows appeared on this snowy day at the bird feeder. They were eating seed off the ground along with all the other hungry birds.

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sonnet

Hamel, MN | March 2009 | Positive

In summer I love to hear their distinct, pleasant call ("kook-A-rrreeeee!") as I walk around the lakes. They are numerous here in MN in warmer weather, and seem to enjoy hanging out in the cattails.

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

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