Meet Our Bird of the Month, the Red-winged Blackbird!

These striking birds are particularly abundant in spring here in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Fun Facts

• They roost in large flocks that can swell into the millions in winter! 

• Flocks may travel up to 50 miles a day in search of food.

• The glossy black males can puff up—or hide—their scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches, reflecting their confidence. Females lack these colorful shoulder patches and are streaky brown, not black.

• They are one of the most polygamous bird species, with an average of 5 females nesting in a single male's territory—as many as 15 have been recorded!

• They like marshy areas, wetlands, and old agricultural fields, and males will aggressively defend their territory.

• Males have a distinctive, almost electronic-sounding song that's described as "conk-la-ree!"

• In California, males may lack the yellow patch on their shoulders.

Learn more on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site.

 

Feeding Tips

• They prefer feeding on the ground, but also like platform and hopper feeders.

• They especially go after cracked corn, millet, sunflower chips, and peanut pieces, but may also enjoy Bark Butter®, Bark Butter Bits, and mealworms.

• If you have too many blackbirds (and/or grackles and starlings) and want to discourage them, switch to safflower seed and tube feeders. If possible, remove the perches from tube feeders, too; small birds can cling to the seed ports, but larger birds struggle.

 

Visit our webshop to explore our selection of highly nutritious bird foods and quality, durable bird feeders.