If you haven’t heard them yet, they’ll be here soon! Red-winged Blackbirds prefer marshes, wetlands, retention ponds…basically anywhere there’s some standing water with vegetation around it. The Red-winged Blackbird male’s loud “conk-la lee” song and flagrant wing-spreading displays declare his nesting territory and attract females. They begin these displays weeks before the females even arrive. There are usually 5 or more females (up to 15) in a single male’s territory.
The females look entirely different than the males with streaky brown feathers which resemble a sparrow’s. The females can most often be found near the ground, either gathering nesting material or collecting food.
Red-winged Blackbirds may come to your yard for mixed grains and seeds, particularly during migration. Spread grain or seed on the ground as well, since this is where Red-winged Blackbirds prefer to feed.
