While looking out the kitchen window this afternoon a pair of male Red-winged Blackbirds were present at the feeder. They looked very tired and eat on and off for a couple of hours and then left. On a spring like day came some spring like birds. It was a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine, temps around 50 degrees.
On a birding walk through Lakeshore State Park one of the highlights was watching a Red-winged Blackbird eating seeds from the native grass Big Bluestem. This female bird did not seem to mind me watching the show. Nothing goes to waste, as it knocked some seeds on a rock below it went down and ate them. It was a beautiful morning, quite chilly to start, with plenty of sun and light winds. Images were taken on September 27, 2018.
Red-winged Blackbird sitting on some stalks of the native grass Big Bluestem…
Gathering the seeds off the seed head…
Nibbling on some seeds of the Big Bluestem…
A stem of seeds, it moves it through its bill…
Nibbling on seeds…
More eating of the seeds…
Closeup of the seed in the bill…
Fallen Big Bluestem seeds on the rock below where the bird ate…
Eating the fallen seeds on the rock…
The stalks of the native grass Big Bluestem blowing in the wind…
In the last couple of days, Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived at the Fox River in downtown Waukesha, WI. It sure sounded like spring was in the air this morning when I saw and heard 5 Male Red-winged Blackbirds along the river walk. They were perched high in trees and on the ground foraging for food. The birds were displaying on and off and acting as if they were taking territory. I did not see any females. By early afternoon the Red-winged Blackbirds had disappeared along the river as this flock may have moved on. Photographs were taken on March 18, 2014.
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Binomial name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Category: Blackbirds
Size: 8.75” long, 13” wing span
Weight: 1.8 oz.
Habitat: The cattail marsh is the most commonly used, but other habitats used are wet and dry meadows, swamps, marshes, wooded or bushy swamps, hayfields, salt marshes, canals used for irrigation and roadside ditches.
Diet: Insects and seeds forging on the ground, sometimes trees.
Nesting: The nest is bowl shaped 4”-7” across. It is constructed of woven plant material on close upright stems in marsh vegetation or a bush. It includes the base platform of wet decaying wood, leaves, and vegetation. The inside is lined with mud and later fine grass. The male helps in choosing the nest location. Typically the female incubates 3-7 eggs pale blue-green to gray in color.
Facts: Although sometimes Red-winged Blackbirds are considered pests, they eat harmful insects in agricultural fields from which farmers benefit. This species is considered by some the most abundant native bird in North America. Red-winged Blackbirds on occasion swoop at people’s heads, they are merely protecting their territory and nest during breeding season.
Red-winged Blackbird – M
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying
