| Actual Image
Red-Winged II (10)
chouette
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (3000) | Red-winged Blackbirds are one of our most recognizable birds; at least the males are.
Both males and females grow to almost 10 inches, but males are black with bright red shoulder patches. Small yellow stripes border the red. Females are very plain brown with streaks.
Red-winged Blackbirds are most common in marshes and swamps, but you will also see them in fields and meadows.
Red-winged Blackbirds are most commonly seen perching on cattails during the breeding season.
The breeding season for Red-winged Blackbirds goes from February to August. Males have territories which they guard from other males. To court females, male blackbirds chase them. Sometimes, several males chase one female at the same time.
When a pair of blackbirds is matched up, they will build a nest. Nests are cup-shaped and made of marsh grasses or reeds attached to cattails or rushes. Sometimes they will build it in a shrub. Each pair of blackbirds will raise two or three broods in a season, building a new nest each time. This probably keeps nests from getting infested with parasites which could kill baby birds.
Three to five pale blue eggs are laid in a nest. Eggs are spotted with brown or purple.
Red-winged Blackbirds eat mostly insects, including dragonflies, damselflies, other flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths, as well as other invertebrates, such as spiders. They catch insects on plants, off the ground, and from the air. In the winter, they switch to mostly grains.
Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Speed: 1/125 f/5
ISO 400
Focal length: 75mm |
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