Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird in flight

The Male Red-winged Blackbird is very gregarious with a very loud, distinctive and liquid song. In the spring the male shows off his scarlet epaulets that at other times of the year are visible only as a yellow strip. Because they are so common, their dramatic beauty and interesting, entertaining behaviors are often overlooked. The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most numerous land birds in North America. They travel in groups but despite their large number and constant activity their rapid, brief erratic flights make capturing an image very difficult.