Red-winged blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

A conspicuous North American marsh bird; males are black with red-and-yellow shoulder patches and sing from reeds.

Key facts

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is an omnivore animal classified as Bird · Passeriformes · Icteridae.
Primary habitats are freshwater · grassland · urban, with a range across Nearctic · Neotropical.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is herd, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A conspicuous North American marsh bird; males are black with red-and-yellow shoulder patches and sing from reeds.
Uses freshwater marshes, reedbeds, wet grassland, farmland, roadsides, canals, and parks, especially vegetated wetlands for breeding.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Uses freshwater marshes, reedbeds, wet grassland, farmland, roadsides, canals, and parks, especially vegetated wetlands for breeding.

Males are black with red and yellow shoulder patches. Females are brown and streaked, with a sparrow-like appearance.

Males sing from tall stems or posts and defend territories. Outside breeding, very large flocks may form.

Insects, seeds, grain, and fruit are eaten, with more insects during breeding and more plant food in winter.

Females weave cup nests among reeds or grasses. Males may defend territories containing several females.

Still abundant in North America, it is influenced locally by wetland quality and agricultural land use.