Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Red-breasted Blackbird (Leistes militaris), male
Red-breasted Blackbird, Male

Red-breasted Blackbird

Leistes militaris

The Red-breasted Meadowlark, known scientifically as Leistes militaris, is a small, vibrant bird within the Icteridae family. It is not to be confused with the Red-winged Blackbird, despite its former name, the Red-breasted Blackbird. The male of the species is adorned with a striking black plumage contrasted by a vivid red throat, belly, and wing epaulets, while the female is characterized by buff-edged dark brown upperparts and buff underparts with a reddish tinge.

Identification Tips

Males are distinguishable by their black feathers and red "redcoat" markings, reminiscent of a soldier's uniform, which is reflected in the species' specific name, militaris, and its Trinidadian moniker, "soldier bird". Females and juveniles are more subdued in coloration, with the females sporting a longer bill, smaller size, and shorter wings compared to their relative, the White-browed Meadowlark. They also have more red and less streaking on the underparts.

Habitat

The Red-breasted Meadowlark favors open country habitats. It thrives in moist grasslands, pastures, and cultivated areas, often utilizing bushes or fence posts as perches for males to sing from.

Distribution

This bird is a resident species ranging from southwestern Costa Rica and Trinidad, down to northeastern Peru and central Brazil. It has been expanding its territory, benefiting from deforestation and ranching that create more open habitats.

Behaviour

The Red-breasted Meadowlark is a gregarious creature, often seen feeding in groups. It has a distinctive display during breeding season, where the male ascends to heights of 10 meters before parachuting down with folded wings, all the while singing a wheezing song.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a unique, wheezing tune that ends with a loud "KWAAAAAA", while its call is a short "tsip".

Breeding

Nests are constructed on the ground amidst tall grasses, often in close proximity to one another. The typical clutch consists of two to four cream eggs, speckled with reddish-brown.

Diet and Feeding

The Red-breasted Meadowlark's diet primarily consists of insects and some seeds, including rice. It forages on the ground in a manner similar to that of a Bobolink.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Red-breasted Meadowlark as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats at present.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Red-breasted Blackbirds on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds

A photo of a Greyish Baywing (Agelaioides badius)

Greyish Baywing

Agelaioides badius
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.