Quick Answers
Female Red-winged Blackbirds do sing, but not as often or as loudly as males. The primary function of female Red-winged Blackbird song is territorial defense. Females may also sing briefly during courtship. Their songs tend to be higher-pitched and more musical than male songs.
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a common and widespread songbird of North America. The males are known for their loud, musical territorial calls, which are among the earliest signs of spring across much of the continent. But what about the females? Do they also sing? And if so, how do their songs compare to those of the males? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the vocalizations of female Red-winged Blackbirds. We’ll discuss when and why they sing, the characteristics of their songs, and how their singing behavior compares to that of males. Read on to learn more about the songs of this intriguing bird species.
Do Female Red-winged Blackbirds Sing?
Yes, female Red-winged Blackbirds do sing, but their songs are generally much less frequent and less conspicuous than males. Singing by female red-wings can be broken down into two contexts: territorial defense and courtship.
Territorial Defense
The primary function of female red-wing song appears to be territorial defense. Both male and female red-wings are territorial during the breeding season and will defend their nesting area aggressively from intruders. When an unwanted bird approaches the territory, the female may emit a short series of musical chip notes and seet calls to signal a threat. She may also produce buzzy “zhee” calls while flying directly at the intruder. These vocalizations help scare off intruders and reinforce territorial boundaries.
Courtship
Female red-wings may also sing briefly during courtship interactions with males. These vocalizations are thought to stimulate the male or reinforce the pair bond. The songs tend to be high-pitched and musical in quality, sometimes accompanied by wing fluttering. However, female courtship singing is less common and less conspicuous than male displays meant to attract mates.
Characteristics of Female Red-winged Blackbird Song
Female Red-winged Blackbird vocalizations share some key characteristics:
- Higher pitch than males
- More musical quality
- Less loud and conspicuous overall
- Lower call rate than males
- Used in territorial defense and courtship contexts
The songs of female red-wings tend to be higher in pitch than the male’s songs. One study found the peak frequency of female red-wing songs averaged 3kHz compared to 2kHz for males. Their vocalizations also tend to be more musical sounding, incorporating more tonal notes. Overall, female red-wings sing much less frequently than males. Their territorial defense and courtship songs are generally lower in volume and less conspicuous than male displays. However, the musical chips, seet calls, and buzzes of females can still carry significant distances on the breeding grounds when listening for them.
Comparison of Female and Male Red-winged Blackbird Songs
Female red-wing vocal behavior differs from males in several notable ways:
Singing Frequency
Male red-wings sing persistently through the breeding season, with peak vocal activity in the mornings. Females sing sporadically in comparison.
Singing Locations
Males sing from elevated perches that serve as song posts, maximizing the transmission of sound. Females may call from concealed locations in dense vegetation.
Purpose
Male singing primarily functions to attract mates and repel rivals. Female singing mainly serves to defend territories.
Characteristics
Male red-wing songs tend to be louder, lower-pitched, and more repetitive. Female songs are generally shorter, higher-pitched, and more musical.
Repertoire Size
Males have a diverse repertoire of over a dozen distinct song types. Females are only known to give a few different call types.
Despite these differences, the vocalizations of female Red-winged Blackbirds serve an important role on the breeding grounds. Their singing helps reinforce territorial boundaries and pair bonds at critical times.
When Do Female Red-winged Blackbirds Sing?
Female Red-winged Blackbirds are most likely to sing in the following contexts:
- Early breeding season (March-April)
- Territorial defense
- Close to the nest
- In response to intruders
- Brief courtship interactions
- Dusk chorus
Singing activity typically peaks in early spring as territories are established. Females sing when responding aggressively to trespassing birds. They also vocalize near the nest and may join in the dusk chorus. Brief soft singing sometimes occurs when interacting with a mate. Outside of the breeding season, females are rarely heard singing.
Examples of Female Red-winged Blackbird Song
Below are descriptions of two common female Red-winged Blackbird song types:
Seet Calls
Seet calls are a common vocalization used in territorial disputes. These calls are short, high-pitched “seet” notes that rise in pitch. They sound thinner and more piercing than male vocalizations. Seet calls may be repeated rapidly when an intruder is first spotted.
Buzz Songs
Buzz songs consist of fast, mechanical sounding buzzes or trills. They sometimes accompany direct flying attacks towards an unwanted bird in the territory. The buzzes serve as an aggressive acoustic signal to go along with the physical harassment.
Listen for these kinds of vocalizations from female red-wings during territorial disputes in spring. The seet calls and buzz songs help signal aggression and ownership of an area.
Why Do Female Red-winged Blackbirds Sing?
Female Red-winged Blackbirds appear to sing for two primary reasons:
Territorial Defense
Singing helps females defend and advertise occupied nesting territories. The songs and calls of females may help deter intruders and reinforce borders.
Courtship Communication
Soft, high-pitched singing may stimulate the male or strengthen the pair bond during courtship. This singing facilitates breeding activities.
While less frequent and conspicuous than male displays, female red-wing vocalizations serve important functions related to breeding success. Territorial defense ensures sufficient resources to raise young. Courtship singing aids in pair bonding and reproduction.
Do All Female Blackbirds Sing?
Singing behavior varies across the Icterid family of blackbirds:
- Red-winged Blackbird – Females regularly sing
- Yellow-headed Blackbird – Females occasionally sing in courtship
- Brewer’s Blackbird – Female song uncommon
- Common Grackle – Females are mostly silent
- Brown-headed Cowbird – Females do not sing
Female song is most prevalent in the Red-winged Blackbird. Other species show occasional to non-existent female singing. More research is needed to understand patterns of female song across the blackbird family. But the available evidence indicates the behavior is widespread, if not universal, among these birds.
Conclusion
In summary, female Red-winged Blackbirds do sing, primarily for territorial defense and sporadically in courtship. Their songs are higher-pitched and more musical sounding than males. Females sing less often and less conspicuously than males overall. But their vocalizations are important tools for communication on the breeding grounds. Paying attention to the songs of female red-wings provides insight into their behavior and biology during critical nesting stages.