Topic: Bird/critter in the spotlight #7 Red winged Blackbird

[Wrennie]

In the spring I saw these 2 red winged blackbirds hopping in & outta' my bushes behind the house. Yesterday Marton noticed Mr, Redwing hanging out on the electric wires, then I saw Mrs. come from behind the house to the feeders. I heard a bunch of peeping behind the house. So i look in the bushes, and sure enough theres a nest!

One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. In the North, their early arrival and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring.

from; http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id

[bestofour]

We have blackbirds but I've never notice this kind.  I'll keep an eye out.

[Tina]

When I was back east I was asking about these. I had never seen them here. I still haven't although the map shows them here. I'll keep an eye out.

[barleychown]

They are really common in certral oregon, but I've only seen a couple here. I miss their song.

[bayou girl]

i remember them from florida, but don't see any here, or haven't anyway.

[Dianna]

I haven't seen any here, but sure I hope I do. They sure are pretty...

[Jessica]

We have all kinds of them here.  They are pretty.

[Triss]

We have those all over, they are gorgeous.

[Penny]

As the map show's, we only have them here in the summer......very pretty.