Agelaius phoeniceus

(Red-Winged Blackbird)

Conservation Status

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Population Analysis

For the 56,646 species in the Class Aves (Birds), we average 272.97 observations each in our database; for the Red-Winged Blackbird, we have 9,812 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is moderately common.
A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Red-Winged Blackbird is the same as the trend in observations of Aves. Is this species just as common, as a proportion of all observations, as it once was? The answer is yes, changes in observation rate of this species do not significantly differ from changes in observation rate of its Class.

Status

These birds are common in appropriate habitats.

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia Linnaeus, 1758 - Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
  - Subkingdom: Bilateria (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
    - Branch: Deuterostomia Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
      - Infrakingdom: Chordonia (Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
        Phylum: Chordata Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
        Subphylum: Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
        Infraphylum: Gnathostomata auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
        Superclass: Tetrapoda Goodrich, 1930 - Tetrapods
        Class: Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - Birds
        Subclass: Neornithes Gadow, 1893
        Infraclass: Neoaves
        Superorder: Passerimorphae
        Order: Passeriformes Linnaeus, 1758 - Perching Birds
        Suborder: Passeri
        Series: Amniota
        Superfamily: Passeroidea
        Family: Fringillidae - Buntings, Finches
        Subfamily: Emberizinae
        Tribe: Icterini
        Genus: Agelaius (Linnaeus, 1766) - Red-winged Blackbirds
        Specific name: phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766)
        Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus L.

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001.

Physical Description

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Family Fringillidae:

A Family of seed-eating, small to moderately large passerine birds that have strong, stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large. They have a bouncing flight, alternating flapping with gliding on closed wings. Most sing well.

Adult Female:

Head: Crown: brown Face: dusky tan Eyebrow Line: broad, dusky tan Malar: thin brown mark Postocular Stripe: dark brown Body: Underparts: dusky white with heavy brown streaks Upperparts: brown with dark streaks.

Adult Male:

Tail: black.

Color:

The male is completely black except for a red shoulder patch (epaulet) with a narrow, yellow horizontal bar at the base of the patch. The female is brown above and has vertical brown and buff streaks below.

Size/Age/Growth:

About 7.5 to 9.5 inches long, with a wingspan of 12 to 14.5 inches. Adults weigh about 2.3 ounces.

Images:

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Egg(s) Photographer: Kenneth M. Gale Copyright: © Kenneth M. Gale Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 244843

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Washington Co., NC 30 June 2006 Males show off their rich red epilets while singing on territory. Photographer: Jeffrey S. Pippen Date Taken: June 30, 2006 Copyright: © 2006 Jeffrey S. Pippen Source: web site ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 289465

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Male Photographer: Terry Spivey
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Terry Spivey. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 172856

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: Kent Olsen Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Source: http://images.fws.gov/ Permissions for Use: See here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 73395

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Adult(s) Photographer: Terry Spivey
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Terry Spivey. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 173278

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: David Stang Date Taken: February 05, 2007
Location Taken: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Copyright: © 2007 David Stang ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 211956

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus female sitting on cattail Photographer: Kenneth M. Gale
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Kenneth M. Gale. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 156423

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Nest found in shrubs along water\'s edge. Photographer: John Triana
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © John Triana. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 176123

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus In flight Photographer: Terry Spivey
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Terry Spivey. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 173279

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus nest in cattails Photographer: Kenneth M. Gale
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Kenneth M. Gale. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 156422

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: David Stang Date Taken: June 08, 2007
Location Taken: Lilypons Water Gardens, Adamstown Maryland, USA Copyright: © 2007 David Stang ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 297782

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: John and Karen Hollingsworth Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Source: http://images.fws.gov/ Permissions for Use: See here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 73397

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Washington Co., NC 30 June 2006 The male above was protecting his nest, partially concealed in the Buttonbush! Photographer: Jeffrey S. Pippen Date Taken: June 30, 2006 Copyright: © 2006 Jeffrey S. Pippen Source: web site ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 289466

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: Ryan Hagerty Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Source: http://images.fws.gov/ Permissions for Use: See here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 73394

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: Marcus G. Martin Copyright: © Marcus G. Martin Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 104321

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Adult(s) Photographer: Kenneth M. Gale Copyright: © Kenneth M. Gale Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 244845

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus nest in nursery Photographer: James Solomon
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © James Solomon. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 157587

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Nest Photographer: Terry Spivey
Location Taken: United States Copyright: © Terry Spivey. Permissions for Use: see www.ForestryImages.org. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 172854

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Egg(s) Photographer: James Solomon Copyright: © James Solomon Permissions for Use: see here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 245836

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Mounted specimen. Photographer: David Stang Date Taken: July 19, 2006
Location Taken: Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale, New York Copyright: © 2006 David Stang ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 131377

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Adult male ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 67829

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: Lee Karney Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Source: http://images.fws.gov/ Permissions for Use: See here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 73392

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Digiscoped Dare Co., NC 24 May 2006 Photographer: Jeffrey S. Pippen Date Taken: May 24, 2006 Copyright: © 2006 Jeffrey S. Pippen Source: web site ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 289464

Agelaius phoeniceus Agelaius phoeniceus Photographer: Donna A. Dewhurst Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Source: http://images.fws.gov/ Permissions for Use: See here. ZipcodeZoo Photo ID: 73396

Distribution

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Range and Population

North America

Habitat

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The Red-winged Blackbird inhabits both wetland areas, such as freshwater and saltwater marshes, and dry upland areas, such as meadow, prairies, and old fields.

Vegetation: freshwater marshes, saltwater and brackish marshes, arid lowland scrubs, riparian thickets • Minimum Elevation: 0 meters • Maximum Elevation: 3,000 meters • Foraging Strata: Midstory • Center of Abundance: Middle montane: mountains, middle range, 1,600-2,600 m. • Relative Abundance in Tropical America: Common • Sensitivity to Disturbance: Low.

Diet

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During the breeding season, it forages primarily on insects and other invertebrates. During the winter months it feeds primarily on grains. Large foraging flocks are common during winter and, less commonly, during the summer away from the breeding territories. Large migratory flocks may be observed during fall and early spring. Predation of eggs and nestlings is common.

Reproduction

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Breeding season lasts from February through August. The birds commonly nest in marsh or prairie habitat. The female builds a cup-shaped nest about 1-2 m (3-6 ft) above ground or water. She weaves the nesting material, usually grasses or reeds, into several upright cattails, reeds, or grasses for support. The female lays 3 - 4 greenish-blue eggs with brown spots, which she incubates for 11 days. Young are altricial. Both parents feed insects and insect larvae to the nestlings for 14 days. Then the young fledge from the nest. Red-winged Blackbirds are often polygamous.

Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-4
Length of Incubation: 10-12 days
Days to Fledge: 11-14
Number of Broods: 2, occasionally 3

Migration

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Migratory

Behavior

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Nest predators include birds, snakes, and the Raccoon.

Song/Voice

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Agelaius phoeniceus
Recordist: Jim Stasz Copyright Holder: Jim Stasz

Agelaius phoeniceus
Recordist: John R. Sauer Copyright Holder: John R. Sauer Permissions for Use: See here.

Similar Species

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Tricolored Blackbird

Members of the genus Agelaius:

Members of the genus Agathotanais:

There are approximately 4 species and subspecies in this genus: A. hanseni · A. ingolfi · A. spinipoda · A. splendidus

More Info

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Notes

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Contributors:

Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 and ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed May 18, 2006. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 11 providers.
Hines, J. E., Gregory Gough, J. R. Sauer, et al. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
NatureServe. 2003. Downloadable animal data sets. NatureServe Central Databases. Accessed February 6, 2005.
Parker III, T.A., D.F. Stotz, and J.W. Fitzpatrick, and quot;Ecological and Distributional Databases for Neotropical Birds, and quot; in Neotropical Birds: Ecology and Conservation, by D.F. Stotz, T.A. Parker III, J.W. Fitzpatrick, and D.K. Moskovits (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996). ISBN 0-226-64676-9.
Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2005. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2004. Version 2005.2. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
Sauer, J. R., S. Schwartz, and B. Hoover. 1996. The Christmas Bird Count Home Page. Version 95.1. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
The Georgia Museum of Natural History and Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Identifiers:

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 179045
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 240551
Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: ABPBXB0010
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 894

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Last Revised: March 06, 2008