Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), male
Red-winged Blackbird, Male

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a striking and abundant passerine bird, belonging to the family Icteridae. Exhibiting pronounced sexual dimorphism, the male is resplendent with glossy black plumage, accented by a vibrant red shoulder patch edged with a yellow border. The female, in contrast, is cloaked in more subdued hues of brown, adeptly blending into her surroundings.

Identification Tips

Males are easily identified by their jet-black feathers and the scarlet and yellow "epaulets" on their wings. Females are more cryptic, with a mottled brown appearance, often with streaks or lighter undersides. Both sexes possess a pointed bill and a medium-length, rounded tail.

Habitat

Red-winged Blackbirds are versatile in their choice of habitat, though they show a strong affinity for wetlands. They are commonly found in freshwater and saltwater marshes, particularly where cattails are present. They also inhabit dry upland areas such as meadows and prairies.

Distribution

This species is widespread across North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland, extending south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and parts of Central America. They are also found in isolated regions of El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

Behaviour

Red-winged Blackbirds are known for their territorial nature, especially during the breeding season. Males can be seen perched conspicuously, singing and displaying their shoulder patches, while females are more secretive, often foraging within dense vegetation.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a distinctive, scratchy "oak-a-lee," while the female's vocalizations include a chattering "chit chit cheer teer teer." Their calls serve as important communication signals within their social structure.

Breeding

Nesting in loose colonies, the female constructs a basket-like nest attached to marsh vegetation or shrubs. Clutches typically consist of three to four eggs, which are incubated solely by the female. Red-winged Blackbirds are polygynous, with males defending territories that may contain multiple females.

Similar Species

The Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) can be confused with the Red-winged Blackbird, but males of the former have darker red epaulets edged with white, not yellow.

Diet and Feeding

An omnivorous bird, the Red-winged Blackbird's diet includes seeds, grains, insects, and small animals. They exhibit foraging flexibility, adapting their diet seasonally and based on availability.

Conservation Status

The Red-winged Blackbird is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Despite its abundance, habitat destruction and changes in agricultural practices have led to population declines in some areas. However, the species' adaptability has allowed it to persist in a variety of environments.

Red-winged Blackbird Sounds



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

Red-winged 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
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
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.
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!
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.