Red-Winged Blackbird

The Red-Winged Blackbird has been described many ways. It’s a black bird with red and yellow wings. Or, it’s a bright red bird with black wings. Maybe you’ve described it as a black bird with red stripe on wing. Or how about a black bird with red spot on wing. However you describe it, it remains one of the most abundant birds in North America.

The Red-Winged Black Bird’s latin name is Agelaius phoeniceus. It’s preferred habitat and breeding is fresh and saltwater marshes, as well as meadows, prairies, and fields, especially near ponds and lakes. Sometimes, the Red-Winged Blackbird may winter as far north as Pennsylvania, but northern populations are generally migratory, moving south to southern parts of the United States and Mexico.

The population of the Red-Winged Blackbird is decreasing. It can be found at Coal Creek Farm year round. The diet of the Red-Winged Blackbird is mostly insects, spiders and other invertebrates, as well as weed seeds and crop grains. An interesting fact about the Red-Winged Blackbird is that their eggs are a pale turquoise color, with black or brown markings.