The red wing blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a very common and widespread bird species found across most of North and Central America. They are medium-sized blackbirds identified by the red and yellow shoulder patches on the males. Red wing blackbirds exhibit a range of interesting behaviors related to breeding, feeding, migration and socializing.
What does the red wing blackbird look like?
The red wing blackbird is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning males and females have different plumage. Adult males are all black with bright red shoulder patches edged with yellow that are conspicuous in flight. They have a pointed bill and weigh between 1.1-2.7 ounces (39-77 grams). Their total body length ranges from 6.7-9.1 inches (17-23 cm).
Females are smaller than males and have brown streaky plumage. They lack the bright shoulder patches, having tan striped shoulders instead. Immature red wings resemble females but are darker overall with buffy streaks. The red patches start to show in the fall of their first year.
Where do red wing blackbirds live?
Red wing blackbirds occupy open, marshy areas across most of North America. Their breeding range extends from Alaska and Canada south throughout the United States into Mexico and Central America. Some northern populations migrate south for winter while southern populations may be permanent residents. They are absent only from the driest areas of the Southwest and small pockets in the Southeast.
Preferred habitat includes freshwater wetlands such as marshes, wet meadows, pond edges and ditches. They also live in agricultural areas, particularly near grain fields. Red wings will sometimes occupy parks, fields and backyards when suitable wetlands are unavailable.
What do red wing blackbirds eat?
Red wing blackbirds are omnivores, eating both plant and animal material. Their diet varies depending on habitat and season. Common foods include:
- Seeds and grains from weeds, grass, crops
- Berries, acorns, fruit
- Insects like dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, spiders
- Snails, leeches, worms, crustaceans
- Frogs, lizards, snakes, fish
- Eggs and nestlings of other birds
- Carrion from small mammals and birds
In wetlands, red wings forage on mud flats exposed during low water. In fields, they forage on the ground for seeds and insects. They sometimes catch insects in mid-air. Red wings are also known to steal food from other birds.
When is the red wing blackbird’s breeding season?
Red wing blackbirds start breeding in late winter or early spring. In warmer southern areas, breeding may start in February. Further north, it typically begins in March or April. Males arrive at the nesting sites a few weeks before females to establish territories.
They build nests in cattails, rushes, grasses and other vegetation over water. The female constructs the nest from wetland grasses and sedge stems, lining it with finer grasses and mud. Nest building takes 6-10 days. Completed nests are cup-shaped structures 3-7 inches across and 4-6 inches high.
How do red wing blackbirds attract mates?
Male red wing blackbirds are polygynous, mating with multiple females. They attract mates through elaborate courtship displays. Often perched on a high vantage point like a cattail stalk, the male will puff up his feathers, flare his shoulder patches and spread his tail while calling loudly. He may perform flight displays, flying up with spread wings and tail before gliding down with sputtering wingbeats.
If a female shows interest, the male flies over to her while flashing his patches. He continues the display up close, hopping around with wings half open. Copulation occurs quickly if the female is receptive. After mating, the male moves on to court other females.
How many eggs does a red wing blackbird lay?
The typical red wing blackbird clutch contains 3-5 pale bluish-green eggs marked with brown, purple or black spots and scrawls. The female lays one egg per day. She incubates the eggs alone for 10-14 days before they hatch.
Red Wing Blackbird Clutch Size
| Clutch Size | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 2 eggs | 10% of nests |
| 3 eggs | 35% of nests |
| 4 eggs | 40% of nests |
| 5 eggs | 15% of nests |
Larger clutches of up to 6 eggs sometimes occur, particularly early in the breeding season. Second broods tend to have slightly smaller clutches.
How do the parents care for the young?
Red wing blackbird nestlings hatch after 10-14 days of incubation. They are helpless, blind and sparsely covered in gray down. Both parents feed the nestlings regurgitated insects and other invertebrates. For the first week, nestlings are brooded by the female. After that, she joins the male to deliver food.
The nestlings grow rapidly and are able to leave the nest at 10-14 days old, before they can fly. They stay near the nest, sheltering in vegetation and relying on the parents for another 1-2 weeks. Red wings become independent around 3-4 weeks after hatching.
Do red wing blackbirds migrate?
Northern populations of red wing blackbirds are migratory, while southern groups may remain year-round residents. Migrating flocks first start moving north in February and March. Fall migration back south peaks in October and November. They fly during the day and roost in wetlands at night.
Red wings exhibit a mixed migration strategy. Some migrate long distances from northern breeding areas to southern wintering grounds. Others migrate shorter distances, dispersing south or coastward from inland nesting sites. Young birds typically migrate further than adults.
Red Wing Blackbird Migration Distances
| Age | Migration Distance |
|---|---|
| Juvenile birds (under 1 year old) | Full distance between breeding and winter grounds |
| Adult females | Medium distances, often wintering closer to breeding areas |
| Adult males (over 2 years old) | Short distances, many remain near breeding areas year-round |
What are some key behaviors of red wing blackbirds?
Some interesting behavioral notes about red wing blackbirds include:
- Males are strongly territorial during breeding season. They defend nesting areas with threat displays and aggression.
- Outside of breeding season, red wings form large flocks of up to several thousand birds.
- Roosting flocks exhibit synchronized movements and complex signaling.
- Red wings sometimes engage in a behavior called “anting” where they spread ants across their feathers which likely helps repel parasites.
- They are semicolonial nesters, preferring to nest in loose groups near others of their species.
Red Wing Blackbird Roost Sizes
| Roost Size | Number of Birds |
|---|---|
| Small | 100 – 500 birds |
| Medium | 500 – 2000 birds |
| Large | 2000 – 10000 birds |
| Very Large | 10000+ birds |
How do red wing blackbirds interact with other species?
Red wing blackbirds have varied relationships with other birds and animals. Some key interactions include:
- Compete with other blackbird and marsh species for nest sites and food. Aggressively defend territories against them.
- Nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds occurs frequently, reducing red wing breeding success.
- Serve as hosts for brood parasites like brown-headed cowbirds and European cuckoos.
- Preyed upon by hawks, falcons, owls, snakes and other predators.
- Give alarm calls that warn other wetland birds of predators.
- Form mixed foraging flocks with egrets, starlings, grackles and other blackbirds.
- Cave swallows and marsh wrens sometimes nest in old red wing nests.
What conservation issues affect red wing blackbirds?
Red wing blackbirds remain common and widespread overall. However, some local declines due to the following threats have occurred in certain areas:
- Wetland drainage and degradation reduces nesting habitat.
- Conversion of grasslands, pastures and wet meadows to agriculture.
- Nest predation and parasitism by cowbirds linked to habitat fragmentation.
- Pesticide use can reduce food supplies and poison birds.
- Climate change altering migration timing and wetland hydrology.
Protecting remaining wetlands through easements and restoration provides vital habitat. Restricting pesticides use near wetlands and managing cowbirds may also help conservation efforts for the species.
Conclusion
In summary, red wing blackbirds exhibit a diversity of fascinating behaviors throughout their breeding, migration and wintering life cycles. The males are strongly territorial and polygynous breeders. They migrate in large flocks that display complex signaling. Red wings fill an important niche in wetland ecosystems across North and Central America. Ongoing conservation efforts focused on protecting wetlands and mitigating threats will help ensure stable populations of this iconic blackbird species into the future.
