Rain and the Red Wing Blackbird
by Michelle Frizzell-Thompson
Title
Rain and the Red Wing Blackbird
Artist
Michelle Frizzell-Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography/digital Art
Description
Red-winged Blackbirds are one of our most recognizable birds; at least the males are.
Both males and females grow to almost 10 inches, but males are black with bright red shoulder patches. Small yellow stripes border the red. Females are very plain brown with streaks.
Red-winged Blackbirds are most common in marshes and swamps, but you will also see them in fields and meadows.
In the Fall, blackbirds will form flocks of thousands, along with birds of other species. These flocks will fly around making great noise as they feed.
Red-winged Blackbirds are most commonly seen perching on cattails during the breeding season.
The breeding season for Red-winged Blackbirds goes from February to August.
Red-winged Blackbirds eat mostly insects, including dragonflies, damselflies, other flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths, as well as other invertebrates, such as spiders. They catch insects on plants, off the ground, and from the air. In the winter, they switch to mostly grains.
Red-winged Blackbirds help people by controlling insect populations. Their song is also considered very pleasant to listen to by many people. Others consider them a pest; when they are in great flocks they can disturb farms.
Uploaded
June 20th, 2013
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