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| − | {{Taxobox
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| − | | color = pink
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| − | | name = Red-winged Blackbird
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| − | | status = LC
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| − | | image = Red winged blackbird - natures pics.jpg
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| − | | image_width = 240px
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| − | | image_caption = Male
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| − | | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| − | | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| − | | classis = [[bird|Aves]]
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| − | | ordo = [[passerine|Passeriformes]]
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| − | | familia = [[Icterid]]ae
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| − | | genus = ''[[Agelaius]]''
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| − | | species = '''''A. phoeniceus'''''
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| − | | binomial = ''Agelaius phoeniceus''
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| − | | binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]])
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| − | }}
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| − | The '''Red-winged Blackbird''', ''Agelaius phoeniceus'', is a [[passerine]] [[Aves|bird]] of the family [[Icterid]]ae found in most of [[North America|North]] and much of [[Central America]]. It breeds from [[Alaska]] and [[Newfoundland]] south to [[Florida]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]], [[Mexico]] and [[Guatemala]], with isolated populations in western [[El Salvador]], northwestern [[Honduras]] and northwestern [[Costa Rica]]. It may winter as far north as [[Pennsylvania]] and [[British Columbia]], but northern populations are generally [[bird migration|migratory]], moving south to Mexico and the southern [[United States]].
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| − | [[Image:Agelaius-phoeniceus-008.jpg|120px|thumb|left|Female]] The common name for this species is taken from the mainly black adult male's distinctive red shoulder patches, or "epaulets", which are visible when the bird is flying or displaying. At rest, the male also shows a pale yellow wingbar. The female is blackish-brown and paler below. The female is considerably smaller than the male, at 17-18 cm (7 inches) length and 36 g weight, against his 22-24 cm (9.5 inches) and 64 g. Young birds resemble the female, but are paler below and have buff feather fringes. Both sexes have a sharply pointed bill.
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| − | There are a number of subspecies, some of dubious status, but the 'Bicolored Blackbird' ''A. p. gubernator'' of California and central Mexico is distinctive. The male lacks the yellow wing patch of the nominate race, and the female is much darker than the female nominate. The taxonomy of this form is little understood, with the relationships between the two isolated Bicolored populations, and between these and Red-winged still unclear.
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| − | The Red-winged Blackbird feeds primarily on plant [[seed]]s, including weeds and waste grain, but about a quarter of its diet consists of [[insect]]s, [[spider]]s, [[mollusk]]s and other small animals. In season, it eats [[Blueberry|blueberries]], [[Blackberry|blackberries]], and other [[fruit]]. These birds can be lured to backyard [[bird feeder]]s by bread and seed mixtures.
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| − | When migrating north, these birds travel in single-sex [[flock]]s, and the males usually arrive a few days before the females. Once they have reached the location where they plan to breed, the males stake out territories by singing. They defend their territory aggressively, both against other male Red-winged Blackbirds and against birds they perceive as threatening, including [[crow]]s, [[Osprey]]s, [[hawk]]s, and even humans.
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| − | The call of this species is a throaty ''check'', and the male's song is scratchy ''oak-a-lee'' (see below).
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| − | Red-winged Blackbirds prefer [[marsh]]es, but will nest near any body of water. Pairs raise two or three clutches per season, in a new [[nest]] for each clutch. The nests are cups of vegetation, and are either built in shrubs or attached to marsh grass. A clutch comprises three to five [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s. These are incubated by the female and hatch in 11-12 days. Red-winged Blackbirds are hatched blind and naked, but are ready to leave the nest ten days after hatching.
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| − | Red-winged Blackbirds are [[polygynous]], with territorial males defending up to 10 females. However, females frequently copulate with males other than their social mate and often lay clutches of mixed [[paternity]].
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| − | [[Image:Blackbird-sunset-03.jpg|thumb|left|128px|[[Backlighting (lighting design)|Backlit]] flock.]] When the breeding season is over, Red-winged Blackbirds gather in huge flocks, sometimes numbering in the millions. In some parts of the United States, they are considered to be pests because these flocks can consume large amounts of cultivated grain or [[rice]]. This bird's numbers are declining due to [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] loss and the use of [[poison]] to prevent this loss of crops.
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| − | Despite the similar names, the Red-winged Blackbird is not related to the European [[Redwing]] or the Old World [[Common Blackbird]], which are [[thrush (bird)|thrushes]] (''Turdidae'').
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| − | {{Commons|Agelaius phoeniceus}}
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| − | == Media ==
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| − | {{listen|filename=Agelaius-phoeniceus-001.ogg|title=Cong-a-lee!|description=One of several calls given by a male red-winged blackbird.}}
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=54142|title=Agelaius phoeniceus|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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| − | * Jaramillo and Burke, ‘‘New World Blackbirds'' ISBN 0-7136-4333-1
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| − | * Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9688 Red-winged Blackbird videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
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| − | [[Category:Icteridae]]
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| − | [[Category:Avifauna of Quebec]]
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| − | [[de:Rotschulterstärling]]
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| − | [[fr:Carouge à épaulettes]]
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| − | [[ja:ハゴロモガラス]]
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| − | [[fi:Punaolkaturpiaali]]
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