Today the classic sound of the Red-winged Blackbird was heard and after a few moments, I spotted the bright red of the wing.
Heard the Red-winged Blackbird
Picture of the Day for March 23, 2023
With all the snow on the ground, it is hard to remember that it is spring – at least according to the calendar – but another sign that spring may be coming was the return of the red-winged blackbirds as they voiced their arrival rather noisily today as they perched high in the trees (to stay far away from the snow).
Red-winged Returns
Picture of the Day for March 14, 2021
A pair of geese were in the creek under the fallen willow tree at the farm and another pair of geese made a visit to my pond. I spotted a red-winged blackbird today but it might want to head back south if there is much snow tomorrow. And in a few more weeks, they will be squawking at me when I approach my pond as they like to nest in the cattails there.
Red-Winged is Back
Picture of the Day for June 16, 2019
Many are celebrating Father’s Day, with gifts to dad or activities like fishing with the family as tribute to fathers. The birds might not observe holiday events, but the father of these red-winged blackbirds was doing his best to protect his children by making noise and swooping to drive me away from the nest. His song was not the nice melody when they return in spring, but the scolding chak chak chak noise that red-winged blackbirds make when you’re in their territory.
Baby Red-winged Blackbirds
Picture of the Day for March 21, 2018
It felt a little more like spring today on this first full day of astronomical spring as there were more robins in the yard today even if just a few degrees above freezing and not very sunny. But another spring voice was heard today with the return of the red-winged blackbird (although I didn’t see it, only heard it singing).
Return of the Red-winged
Picture of the Day for July 25, 2016
These birds found a good feeding spot as a male Ring-necked Pheasant and one of his babies plus a Red-winged Blackbird picked at the fallen seed.
Birds Feeding
Picture of the Day for March 25, 2016
Just twenty miles north of my place, there was no snow yesterday and I spotted a Red-winged Blackbird on a cattail stalk singing the spring tune. But there is no singing here and even the geese have left my pond as it was cold enough overnight to create an ice layer. I haven’t heard the other summertime birds, like the bluebirds or killdeers, this morning either as they are probably wondering why they came north too soon. The forecast calls for more snow tonight and tomorrow so probably no blackbird spring serenade near my pond until the snow is gone.
Songless Red-winged Blackbird
Picture of the Day for June 11, 2015
Certain birds let you know when you are too close to their nest and will try to lead you away from their nest, dive bomb your head or start squawking at you. The Red-winged Blackbird gets rather noisy when too close to the nest and soon both the female and male are making a fuss until I leave the area. The female was trying to feeding her babies when I spotted the nest and she wasn’t happy with me. At least this nest I could get to since most of the nests are over the water as the Red-winged Blackbirds like to build their nest among the cattails.
Red-winged Blackbird Babies
Picture of the Day for November 13, 2012
With the sun out melting the snow today, the ‘hunt for spring’ fever continues this week and one sign that spring has arrived is the song of the Red-winged Blackbird as they hang out in the cattails.
The male Red-winged Blackbirds will do everything they can to get noticed, sitting on high perches and belting out their conk-la-ree! song all day long. Course they want the girls attention as the male Red-winged Blackbird may have as many as 15 female mates but with that many females, he apparently doesn’t watch them closely enough as a quarter to half of the nestlings are sired by a different male!
Conk-la-ree!
