Red-winged Blackbird – Ross Feldner It’s said the Robin is the harbinger of spring but there’s another sure avian sign of spring and that’s the Red-winged Blackbird singing out it’s raspy “conk-a-ree” call. Males and females are not only very different in appearance but also fulfill distinctly different roles with the male singing ceaselessly and chasing away intruders while the female stays mostly hidden in the vegetation stealthily building the nest and incubating the eggs. Males can attract over a dozen females to nest within the loose colony and females will frequently mate with males other than the one guarding the territory. Males are aggressive and will “mob” and chase competing males as well as other birds including herons, raptors and crows. If people wander too close they may come under attack. Red-winged Blackbirds are not picky eaters consuming seeds, grains, fruits, insects, spiders and even small animals and carrion. | |
