Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Although the Red-winged Blackbird is a year-round resident of Central Texas, I generally see them at my backyard feeder in very early spring. The mature male is easy to spot with the red “epaulets” on their wings. The females fool me all the time; at first glance they look like some sort of sparrow, being brown and heavily streaked. Upon looking closer, you’ll notice the slender, conical bill, stocky build, and larger size as compared to a sparrow – more similar in size to a Robin. Once females reach maturity, they have a faint epaulet, not as dramatic as that of the breeding males. The non-breeding male (generally younger than 3 years) has a scaly look with the epaulet incomplete.
A female Red-winged Blackbird.
A juvenile male Red-winged Blackbird.
The Red-winged Blackbird’s diet varies by season. During the summer, they prefer insects, and during the winter, they eat seeds include cocklebur, ragweed, corn, and wheat. This explains their presence at my feeder in very early spring since I stock various types of grain and seeds – they will visit a feeder platform, but they prefer to feed on the ground.
Highly social during the fall and winter, they gather in huge flocks along with grackles, cowbirds, and starlings which will feed together on the ground and roost together in groups of thousands or even millions of birds. In the breeding season, the Red-winged Blackbird prefers wet or marshy areas and sometimes open fields. The male generally has at least five females in his territory with whom he mates – sometimes even up to 15. The females don’t limit their mating to the territory holder, however; typically, one quarter to one half of nestlings are sired by a different male. This despite the fact that males are fiercely protective of their territory – chasing out other males and attacking nest predators (including humans).
The female builds the nest, usually lower among dense growth of marsh plants, shrubs, or trees. She uses stringy plant material that she weaves around vertical stems making a platform of wet vegetation. She adds more wet materials and plasters the inside with mud to form the cup which she lines with fine grasses. When it’s finished, the nest will be 4-7 inches in diameter and 3-7 inches in depth. Commonly a clutch of eggs is 2-4 eggs and 1-2 broods each breeding season. Eggs incubate about 2 weeks with the nestlings remaining in the nest for another 2 weeks. The female provides most of the food for the nestlings with the male also providing some. Given that he generally has at least 5 different nests with hungry mouths, it’s logical that the female is the primary food provider.
The mature male Red-winged Blackbird is a handsome bird. They are also very bold, willing to attack larger birds including hawks or crows who happen to fly over or near the nesting territory. Your best bet in getting them to your feeder is to provide a variety of seeds during the fall, winter, and very early spring. Be aware that they can be a mixed blessing in that they travel in large groups during that time of year and can clean out your seed supply in very little time.
Compiled by Lisa S. Graham.
Sources include All About Birds (Cornell), Audubon Field Guide, Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
Photo credits: Connor Charchuk, Andrew Simon, & Scott Martin – Macaulay Library