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Red-winged Blackbirds are somewhat smaller than an American Robin (approximately 7.5 to 9.5 inches in length). Males are glossy black everywhere except on the epaulets, or shoulders, of the wing. The epaulets are scarlet (the lesser wing coverts) bordered with a buff or yellowish color (the greater wing coverts). . Females are blackish brown above streaked with buff and chestnut. The head is streaked with a buffy supercilium, brown cheeks, and dark eye stripe and cap. The throat is pale with a pink or buffy tinge; breast and belly are whitish with heavy dark streaking. The tail and wings are dark brown; the wing feathers are tipped with buff, and there is a trace of the male's red epaulet coloring. This is probably the most abundant North American bird, which is also one of the most highly polygynous of all bird species. In northern and northeastern North America, males that have successfully claimed territories mate with 2 or 3 females; in dryer regions, where marsh insects may be more plentiful, the usual ratio is 3 to 6 females per territorial male. Up to 15 females have been observed on the territory of a single male, but the territory owner may not necessarily father all of the young on his territory. Females sometimes mate with several partners during a season or even during a single nesting attempt. This is the reason they are so plentiful. The male Red-winged Blackbird fiercely defends his territory during the breeding season. He may spend more than a quarter of all the daylight hours in territory defense. He vigorously keeps all other males out of the territory and defends the nests from predators. He will attack much larger animals, including horses and people. The Red-winged Blackbird forms roosting congregations in all months of the year. In the summer it will roost in small numbers at night in the wetlands where it forages and breeds. In winter, it can form huge congregations of several million birds, which congregate in the evening and spread out each morning. Some may travel as far as 80 km (50 mi) between the roosting and feeding sites. It commonly shares its winter roost with other blackbird species and European Starlings. |
| RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Agelaius phoeniceus |
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