Songbirds
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
The red-winged blackbird is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North America and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and northwestern Costa Rica.
Males are glossy black with red-and-yellow shoulder patches; females are streaky brown.
- Scientific name
- Agelaius phoeniceus
- Group
- Songbirds
- Main color
- Black
- Conservation (IUCN)
- Least concern
Size and shape
The female is smaller than the male, at 17–18 cm (6.7–7.1 in) long and weighing 41.5 g (1.46 oz), against his length of 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) and weight of 64 g (2.3 oz).
Diet
It feeds primarily on plant materials, including seeds from weeds and waste grain such as corn and rice, but about a quarter of its diet consists of insects and other small animals, and considerably more so during breeding season.
Range and habitat
The red-winged blackbird is widely spread throughout North America, except in the arid desert, high mountain ranges, and arctic or dense afforestation regions.
Voice
The calls of the red-winged blackbird are a throaty check and a high slurred whistle, terrr-eeee.
More photos
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Red-winged Blackbird FAQ
How big is the Red-winged Blackbird?
The female is smaller than the male, at 17–18 cm (6.7–7.1 in) long and weighing 41.5 g (1.46 oz), against his length of 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) and weight of 64 g (2.3 oz).
What does the Red-winged Blackbird eat?
It feeds primarily on plant materials, including seeds from weeds and waste grain such as corn and rice, but about a quarter of its diet consists of insects and other small animals, and considerably more so during breeding season.
How do I identify a Red-winged Blackbird?
Males are glossy black with red-and-yellow shoulder patches; females are streaky brown.
Where does the Red-winged Blackbird live?
The red-winged blackbird is widely spread throughout North America, except in the arid desert, high mountain ranges, and arctic or dense afforestation regions.
Is the Red-winged Blackbird endangered?
No. The IUCN Red List rates the Red-winged Blackbird as least concern (status read from Wikidata).
Facts on this page are summarized from the Wikipedia article on the Red-winged Blackbird (read October 27, 2026) and conservation status from Wikidata. Quick ID notes are Birdstagram's own summary.