Species Profile: Red-winged Blackbirds

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Species Profile: Red-winged Blackbirds

Рет қаралды 2,886

Күн бұрын

Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most numerous and widespread birds in North America but you may be surprised by there habits and relatives.
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdce...
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Contact: info@backyardbirdcenter.com
Cover photo of a male Red-winged Blackbird by Rick Jordahl
Male Common Grackle in flight by Sandy Dion
Male Yellow-headed Blackbird by Rick Jordahl
Young male Baltimore Oriole by Carrie Wadlow
Male Red-winged Blackbird at feeder by Mary Nemecek
Female Red-winged Blackbird on arm by Bruce Weekes
Female Red-winged Blackbird profile by Linda Williams
Female Red-winged Blackbird with worm by Mary Nemecek

Пікірлер: 47

@DennisDerrick 5 ай бұрын

Central Indiana here. I have a small pond I made 20 years ago and the cattails have grown like crazy for the past few years. I noticed last year a male redwing blackbird with several females would show up at our feeders occasionally and hang out by the pond. Interesting the hear they are so free in the mating habits. Makes sense now based on what I observed. Beautiful bird and great song.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

I love their songs

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

@gerrilemoine9690 3 ай бұрын

Live in ky and have 1 bird show up every spring for week or so then gone! He’s gorgeous and love sitting on porch while he eats

@MarksBackyardBirds 3 ай бұрын

If you have cattails nearby he could stay through the summer.

@user-wl9ll7us4q 17 күн бұрын

Love them

@MarksBackyardBirds 15 күн бұрын

They are entertaining birds. I love their song.

@kathysparks6338 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! That was some intersting and helpful info on red winged blackbirds .

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

I’m glad you liked it!

@selenakyle9035 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Was confused about the Fenale red wing black bird!

@MarksBackyardBirds 2 ай бұрын

It is a very common problem.

@JohnWood-tk1ge 5 ай бұрын

Had a couple for most of the winter. Today there was so many at the feeders that at first from a distance I thought it was a flock of Grackles,then I got closer and saw what was feeding. Bunch on the safflower feeders as well as the black oil feeders.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

Yes, unfortunately, Red-wings are not as discouraged by safflower as grackle.

@JohnWood-tk1ge 5 ай бұрын

@@MarksBackyardBirdsthat’s ok don’t mind them at all!

@deniseaukerman 5 ай бұрын

We get the yellow heads around my area. They are quite beautiful and really stand out! The red-winged blackbirds hang out here, too. This last winter was the first time I saw the females coming into my feeders with the males. Thanks for a wonderful program, Mark.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

You are most welcome. I think Yellow-headeds are stunning.

@susanmunoz7688 5 ай бұрын

That was interesting!

@Loveofpets 5 ай бұрын

I had a huge flock of them on Sunday along with Grackles and Starlings. It was amazing to see. A video of them will be on my other channel soon.

@taunichurchill4633 5 ай бұрын

Love these birds. We live near an Audubon Nature Center in Sarasota, FL. We went Sun to see if I could see the Painted Bunting before it leaves, didn’t see the male. Female came in to the feeders though. Saw a yellow headed blackbird like what you had up on the screen, everyone was excited because this bird shouldn’t be here. It was a juvenile, but so pretty. Lots of Purple Martins as they have two nesting areas for them.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

That’s cool. That Yellow-headed is definitely out of place there. Good spot.

@awlthatwoodcrafts8911 5 ай бұрын

I'm in San Antonio and we just started seeing them (again) in last few weeks. There is a duck pond (city maintained) about a half mile from our house and there is a small channel that runs from that pond to a smaller pond that is closer to our house. That smaller pond is concealed by brush and what-not. I would venture to guess that the red-wings that we see are probably nesting around that smaller pond. I have noticed from time to time that when I see a blackbird I'm unsure of whether it's a red-winged because it's not showing it's colors, but then I usually see the color when they fly away. Now I know why. As for the females, I've seen them but always thought they were a larger sparrow, just like you said. But now I know. The most red-winged blackbirds I've seen around our yard at any one time has been maybe 10. Typically we'll see 1-3 at a time but many times 4-5 when there's lots of activity at the feeders. So for us, they are not much of a nuisance. You say they are all over the country. I grew up in So. Calif, Orange County to be exact, and in my 35 years there, I never saw a red-winged blackbird. Plenty of noisy crows, but never any blackbirds. As you also said, they prefer the cat tail marshes, but I never lived near one and with their smaller territory, as you described, I would say that was the reason why I'd never seen one. This was a very informative video. Thank you so much for taking the time to put it together.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the update in your are. I’m glad you liked it.

@shirleywilhelm1495 5 ай бұрын

More information on bluejays please!

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

I will work on that. Have you watched my video “Blue Jays: Friend or Foes”? I will get you a link if you need it.

@stevemathis1010 5 ай бұрын

Hi Mark! I never took down the phoebe nest and they are back. They knocked out a big part of the old nest and built a new one attached to it. So glad they’re back!👍

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

That’s cool. Great birds to have nesting nearby

@shirleywilhelm1495 5 ай бұрын

Hi from South Texas.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

Here is my older Blue Jay video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ep6XhsiczJvTeJs.html

@Wilk853 5 ай бұрын

Think goodness their headed back north they bout eat me out house and home this winter here in north east Texas

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

I’m sure

@jamiecolson1674 Ай бұрын

We have a lot of them in Wyoming.

@MarksBackyardBirds Ай бұрын

I bet. Do you see the Yellow-headed Blackbirds as well.

@user-cy7pn2ri3y 5 ай бұрын

Have you ever considered doing a video on wood peckers or how to attract them. Also I have seen your bat video. Was wondering if you have a video on butterflies or bees? Maybe a video on how to feed both the birds and butterflies/bees. would be interested in such videos or any advice you would be willing to give.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

If you go to the search channel bar and enter "woodpecker" it will bring up 8 different videos from the past. Here is a link to the most general one: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kLV7ea15vtO9iXk.html I do plan to do another native landscaping video this spring with my friend Mary who is super knowledgeable about butterflies and other pollinators.

@user-cy7pn2ri3y 5 ай бұрын

@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks and I will check it out. Guess I overlooked

@otisjefferson6800 5 ай бұрын

I joined late from Ohio

@geauxtigers_8458 5 ай бұрын

There must be at least 50 of these guys at my feeders. They are quite loud lol. The males are a bit aggressive.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

That they are

@steelmonkey7609 5 ай бұрын

Hi, Mark, I might be getting some Pine Siskin here on Cape Cod, I'm not sure, I read they can be found in Massachusetts, but I'm having trouble identifying one from a female House Finch. What should I look for right away?

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

The bill on a Siskin is much thinner, same as a Goldfinch. House Finch bills are thicker. Siskins will also show yellow in their wings and tail while House Finches have no yellow.