Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is found in marshes and meadows. In central California this bird has no yellow on the shoulder patch, they are sometimes called Bicolored Blackbirds.
Males defend a territory of 1/8 to 1/4 of an acre by singing from perches with wings spread open and red shoulder patches exposed. Wintering in the southern states, these birds head north at the first hint of spring. The males arrive first with the females arriving several weeks later.
Description:
The Red-wing Blackbird is 7 to 9 1/2 inches in length. The male bird is black with red shoulder bordered with yellow. The female is brown above and heavily streaked brown below with a sharp-pointed bill and a buffy, whitish eyebrow.
The young males are similar to the adult female bird, but darker and with an orangish shoulder patch bordered by white. Female young are like adult female.
Red-wing Blackbird's Feeding
