Species: Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-winged Blackbird

Species

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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Adult males are black with an orange-red and yellowish shoulder patch (colorful patch may be hidden; yellow part may be absent). Adult females have a heavily streaked breast, a pale stripe over the eye, and usually have reddish tones on the back. Juveniles resemble adult females. The bill is straight and tapers to a point. Length is about 8.75 inches (22 cm).

Source: Encyclopedia of Life

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Icteridae

Genus

Agelaius

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102734

Classification

Other Global Common Names

Tordo Sargento - carouge à épaulettes

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Perching Birds

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Passeriformes - Icteridae - Agelaius - (AOU 1998). Allozyme (Gavin et al. 1991) and mtDNA (Ball et al. 1988) data indicate a high level of genetic similarity among populations from throughout most of North America; these data suggests that some currently recognized subspecies in the eastern and central U.S. are of doubtful validity; the greatest genetic differentiation occurs among nonmigratory or at least relatively sedentary populations in Mexico and within California. See Whittingham et al. (1992, Auk 109:928-933) for information on differences in song and sexual dimorphism between Cuban and North American populations.

Ecology and Life History

Source: Encyclopedia of Life

Short General Description

A bird (blackbird).

Migration

true - true - true - Red-winged blackbirds withdraw from the northern part of the breeding range for winter, returning usually in February-March.

Non-migrant

true

Locally Migrant

true

Food Comments

Approximately 73% of diet is vegetable matter, 27% animal matter (Terres 1980); animal component undoubtedly increases during breeding. Feeds in open fields on grain and seeds. Eats mayflies, moths, beetles, caterpillars, grubs, and mollusks, etc. Also eats some fruit.

Reproduction Comments

Nesting begins usually in April-May in most areas, sometimes in late March, and may continue into July. Clutch size is usually 3-5 (often 4) in the United States. Incubation, by the female, lasts 11-12 days. Nestlings are tended by both parents or, in some areas, by the female only. Young are able to leave the nest in about 10 days. <br><br>Most males have multiple females nesting in their territories. Up to 15 females have been found nesting within the territory of a single male, although the average number is 5 or fewer.

Ecology Comments

Gregarious; travels in large flocks, except during the breeding season. May travel in mixed flocks with cowbirds and grackles. Density of territorial males averaged 0.2-0.7 per ha in favorable habitat (Clark and Weatherhead 1987). Commutes up to 80 kilometers to foraging areas from winter roosts (Meanley 1965, Orians 1961).

Length

Weight

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

1996-12-04

Global Status Last Changed

1996-12-04

Other Status

LC - Least concern

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

Breeding range extends from southern Yukon across Canada to Nova Scotia, and south to Baja California, Costa Rica, western Cuba, and the northern Bahamas. This species winters over much of United Sates, especially in the southern part.

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102734