Quick Answer
Yes, the red-winged blackbird is a very common bird found throughout California. The red-winged blackbird is a medium-sized songbird that is a year-round resident in most of the state.
Overview of the Red-winged Blackbird
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a familiar sight across North America. This blackbird gets its name from the bright red shoulder patches on the wings of the male birds. Females are mostly brownish-streaked black.
Red-winged blackbirds are medium-sized songbirds measuring 6.7 to 9.1 inches in length with a wingspan of 12.2 to 15.8 inches. They weigh between 1.1 to 2.7 ounces. Males are slightly larger than females on average.
These birds have conical bills that are sharp and pointed for eating insects and seeds. Their tails are fairly long and rounded. Legs and feet are pinkish or reddish-brown.
Red-winged blackbirds are very social birds that nest and roost in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands. They’re commonly found in open, emergent wetlands with dense vegetation like cattails and bulrushes. But they also thrive in agricultural areas, forest edges, meadows, and parks.
The red-winged blackbird is abundant across North and Central America. Its breeding range stretches from Alaska and Canada down to Panama. Many northern populations migrate south for the winter, while others are permanent residents across the southern U.S. states.
Red-winged Blackbirds in California
In California, the red-winged blackbird can be found year-round across the entire state up to elevation 9,500 feet. They are a common to abundant resident.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the red-winged blackbird is one of the most numerous and widespread birds in California. The state’s breeding population is estimated at up to 15 million pairs.
Red-winged blackbirds occupy varied habitats across California. They thrive in freshwater marshes of the Central Valley and coastal areas. Agricultural fields, pastures, gardens, and orchards also attract these birds. Red-winged blackbirds move into wooded and shrubby habitats during the non-breeding season.
Central Valley wetlands support some of the largest breeding colonies in California. For example, the Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges have summer nesting colonies of more than 250,000 red-winged blackbirds.
Range and Distribution
Red-winged blackbirds occur throughout the California Floristic Province, which encompasses most of the state west of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Along the coast, they are common residents in areas like Morro Bay, Elkhorn Slough, Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, and the San Francisco Bay. Inland wetlands, including the Grasslands Ecological Area and Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, support large numbers.
In southern California, red-winged blackbirds breed abundantly in wetlands of the Los Angeles Basin, San Jacinto Valley, Salton Sea, and lower Colorado River Valley. They are plentiful in riparian areas along desert oases and springs.
Suitable habitat exists for red-winged blackbirds in montane regions, though they become scarcer at higher elevations. For example, they breed in wet meadows up to 9,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Numbers decline sharply above 5,000 feet in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges.
Population in California
As one of the most populous and widespread bird species, the red-winged blackbird has a stable population in California. The North American Breeding Bird Survey reports an increasing population trend in California 1966-2015.
Christmas Bird Count data indicates the total red-winged blackbird population in California is around 4-5 million individuals during winter. Numbers likely double during the breeding season.
The table below shows estimated seasonal abundance of red-winged blackbirds in different regions of California according to eBird data:
| Region | Breeding Season | Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Central Valley | 5,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 500,000 | 100,000 |
| Central Coast | 200,000 | 50,000 |
| Los Angeles Region | 2,000,000 | 500,000 |
| Deserts | 1,000,000 | 100,000 |
| Sierra Nevada | 500,000 | 50,000 |
Habits and Lifestyle
Red-winged blackbirds have vocalizations as varied as their habitats. Males sing a gurgling song often transcribed as “conk-a-ree” from perches to defend territories and attract mates. Other calls include metallic “chuck” notes and piercing alarm calls.
These birds feed primarily on insects, grains, and seeds. Caterpillars, dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets make up much of their diet. Red-winged blackbirds also eat waste grain from agricultural fields and will damage ripening fruit crops.
During winter, red-winged blackbirds shift to more plant-based foods like seeds of grasses and sedges, grain from harvested fields, and acorns or other mast. They have sturdy conical bills adapted for cracking seeds and grain.
Red-winged blackbirds nest in concealed, cup-shaped nests built low in dense, tall vegetation over water or on the ground. Nests are constructed from grass, sedge, cattails, and other available plant material and lined with finer grasses and mud.
Females lay 3-5 eggs that hatch after 11-14 days. Chicks fledge from the nest in about 10 days. Red-winged blackbirds often raise 2-3 broods per breeding season.
These birds bathe frequently and can sometimes be seen plunging into water or dust bathing. They migrate in massive mixed flocks with other blackbird species.
Red-winged blackbirds roost communally in marshes by night and form enormous winter flocks up to a million or more birds. Males are polygamous and defend small territories during breeding season.
Interactions with Humans
The red-winged blackbird is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the U.S. but is otherwise not considered threatened or endangered. Their adaptability allows them to thrive near human activity.
In some locations, large flocks congregating near airports have raised concerns about collisions with aircraft and spread of disease. Red-winged blackbirds will damage crops like rice, berries, and fruits.
Despite some conflicts, the familiar red-winged blackbird remains a celebrated songbird in North America. The flashing red epaulets and bold trills of the males make them a favorite sight in marshes across the continent.
Red-winged blackbirds readily visit bird feeders and baths in backyards for food and water. This provides many people with opportunities to observe these birds up close.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the red-winged blackbird is an abundant, resident bird species found across California year-round. These distinctive blackbirds occupy diverse habitats but favor emergent wetlands.
The total California population likely reaches up to 15 million nesting pairs, making the red-winged blackbird one of the most populous birds in the state. They are a familiar presence in backyards, parks, wetlands, and agricultural areas through California.
While red-winged blackbirds cause some crop damage and other conflicts locally, they remain a protected species. Watching the male’s aerial displays and listening to their raspy song are highlights for many bird enthusiasts in California and beyond.
