What to watch for in February: Hints of Spring in the Air
Here’s the Central Texas bird forecast for the month, courtesy of Travis Audubon. Learn more about Central Texas birds and bird-related events for all ages at travisaudubon.org or by calling 512-300-BIRD. Follow us at www.facebook.com/travisaudubon
While we don’t know what February has in store for us weather-wise, we do know that some wintering birds will get cues to begin migrating this month. Our gorgeous Northern Pintail and Canvasback ducks start their journey north, with most clearing out in February as do Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers. Purple Martins, our largest swallows, start arriving on the Texas coast and making their way to Austin where some will stay and breed. Many other wintering birds will stick around for one or two months longer, until the weather becomes more hospitable on migratory stopover sites and their summering grounds.
The Red-winged Blackbird is a vocal species that has a substantial resident population even more widespread now, with the addition of overwintering migrants. It’s one of the most abundant birds in North America, and well-worth checking out. If you’ve never seen a displaying male you are in for a treat. Marveling at the sheer numbers in a foraging flock is experiential birding at its best.
Males are glossy black birds, about cardinal size, with shoulder patches that are orange-red with a yellow border. The epaulets, as they are called, may or may not be visible depending on what the bird is doing. If it’s trespassing onto another blackbird’s territory it hides them. If it’s trying to woo a female they are on full display. Females are brown and black on their backs and wings, often with rufous tones, with more contrastingly brown and white streaks below. They have thin white eyebrows, and sometimes show pale throats washed with pinky-orange as they get older. Females are often mistaken for large sparrows. In fact our native and introduced sparrows are much smaller, typically less than 6 inches in length vs. 8.75 inches, and they weigh less too. If you find yourself thinking “that’s just a sparrow” take a second look.
How do you find and identify Red-winged Blackbirds? Become familiar with the male’s konk-la-ree call, visit its preferred habitats and be patient. In Austin any lake, pond or retention pond with marshy edges and reeds or cattails is a good candidate for harboring these blackbirds. Lake Pflugerville, the ponds at Southeast Greenway at Mueller, along the reedy edges of Lady Bird Lake, Walter E. Long Lake, Riata Pond, and the Hornsby Bend ponds are examples. Keep in mind that in winter these birds are roosting (spending the night) in these locations, but will fly out just after sunrise, to forage for food. Often they join huge mixed flocks with other blackbirds like grackles and cowbirds. Together they search for seeds and insects in agricultural fields, feedlots, overgrown meadows, and brushy areas like those in northeast Travis County. About two hours before sunset the birds begin returning to roost. It’s a great time to be at a marshy area to watch them return, drop into the vegetation and disappear. You might be amazed at how many can fit in a seemingly small area.
A couple of studies found that Red-winged Blackbirds fly varying distances, probably based on quality and proximity of foraging habitat available. One study reported that birds traveled 80 kilometers between the roost and foraging site, while another using radio-tracking found that birds flew 14 kilometers per day total. In the non-breeding season males and females typically form single sex flocks for roosting and foraging.
In the non-breeding season their diet is primarily plant matter, but what they eat is dependent on the locale – in North Dakota most of the seed eaten is sunflower since that is grown commercially, and it is a high fat seed which blackbirds favor. In other places waste grain like corn, wheat and rice, and weed seeds might be the most abundant plant sources. In the breeding season animal matter in the form of insects is the primary food, with both adults feeding the nestlings and fledglings. It’s straightforward for a blackbird to pick seeds up off the ground or glean a few insects from tree branches. To access insects that hide in the bases of plant leaves, the Red-winged Blackbird feeds by gaping. It’s an evolutionary adaptation in the blackbird family that allows it to use strong muscles of the lower bill to open plant sheaths and expose insects. This is in contrast to most bird species where the muscles controlling the lower mandible are weaker than the muscles closing the bill. On top of that the eyes are well-placed on blackbirds to see directly down their beaks to see what they have exposed.
Fun Facts about Red-winged Blackbirds
Studies have shown the importance of the colorful epaulets in a male’s ability to keep his territory. When birds’ shoulder patches were blackened they were more likely to lose their territories.
The male’s signature konk-la-ree song is very important for maintaining its territory. In one study a male was silenced by humans so it could not sing, although it still could voice call notes. It lost its territory. When one was silenced temporarily it lost its territory but regained it when it could sing again.
A male tries to attract as many females to its territory as possible. This behavior is called polygyny, translating into “many wives.” This does not mean that the females avoid “extra-pair copulation” however. The average size of a male’s harem is 1.7 to 5 females, with one known harem of 15 documented.
Females do much of the work in raising young, such as building the nest and incubating. Males spend much of their time watching for predators, and do help feed the young and remove fecal sacs frequently. It’s fun to note that the males perform a behavior called “Symbolic Nest-building Display” in which it simulates nest-building.
The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas reports that breeding activities in Texas start in mid-March and continue through the end of July.
Upcoming Travis Audubon Events
February offers prime bird watching opportunities. Check the Travis Audubon Events calendar for upcoming field trips. Many fill quickly and registration is required for most. Field trips are offered in various locations around town from far western Travis County (Reimers Ranch and Pace Bend Park) to central Austin (Barton Springs, Laguna Gloria and Southeast Greenway at Mueller) to east Austin (Hornbsy Bend and the beginning bird walk at Onion Creek Greenbelt). There are several classes too, including an Intro to Raptors, a Purple Martin Workshop, Beginning Backyard Birding, and an Intro to Woodpeckers. If you are a fan of hummingbirds register for the monthly member meeting February 19 on Hummingbirds of the Americas, a Photographic Journey by Dr. Isaac Sanchez, a talented local photographer.
From February 13-16 participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit your counts to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.
Compiled by Jane Tillman, Travis Audubon Volunteer
Resources: All About Birds, Birds of the World, the Travis Audubon Seasonal Distribution Checklist, The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Sibley, The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas and The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds by Brush Freeman.
