Resident or short-distance migrant. Red-winged Blackbirds in northern North America winter in the southern United States, as far as about 800 miles from their breeding ranges. Southern and some western populations dont migrate at all.
Looking for ID Help?
Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.
Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
All colors of migrating birds are striking, as are wing patches, tail bands, and other features. My hat is off (figuratively only, of course) to all the waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds that travel thousands of mileswithout the help of Google Maps or a travel agencyfrom their breeding grounds in the North to warmer climates.
500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, hummingbirds the size of a handful of paper clips can travel nonstop. Arctic terns fly an astounding 44,000 miles a year, and they can live longer than the average human did in 1800. which demonstrates the health benefits of intense exercise.
However, exactly how do birds keep distances within a flock or know when to change direction? According to Claudio Carere, an Italian ornithologist who spends a great deal of time researching starling flock behavior in Rome, “No one knows exactly how it works.” I like an honest researcher. By Paul J. Hetzler Current Location: Canton, NY.
Red-wings often nest in loose colonies in marshes. I remember watching red-wing blackbirds peering into nests while my young daughter and I were canoeing through cattails. Adults were hovering above us, making loud objections and occasionally diving a little too close to our heads. Red-wings are somewhat protected from foxes and raccoons by marshes, and the females’ mottled brown coloring helps them blend in. No matter where blackbirds nest, hawks and, to a lesser extent, owls, harm them.
Red-wing blackbirds are among the first signs of spring, along with robins. Usually, I can hear them before I can see them; the males’ “oak-a-chee” call is soothing to my ears in a variety of ways. Additionally, the males’ red and yellow wing patches, or epaulets, add a welcome pop of color to the otherwise sepia and snow tones of mid-March.
FAQ
What month do blackbirds migrate?
Why are there so many black birds flying around?
Do blackbirds go south for winter?
What does it mean when your yard is full of black birds?