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Red-Winged Blackbird: Identify Male & Female

Judging by the name, you can probably guess what a red-winged blackbird looks like. Yet, your first instinct might not be right for both males and females. Only adult males of this species have black feathers with red wings. A female red-winged blackbird looks drastically different from a male. 

Knowing the identifying features of both males and females of this species can help you spot them easier.

Two Comparison Shots of a Male and a Female Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird Male (left) and Female (right). Image by Dale Roddick via Flickr.

What is a Red-Winged Blackbird?

This bird species is one of the most common birds across North America, especially in the spring. Youā€™ll commonly see them perched on cattails near marshes. When perched up high, they make sudden one-note calls that turn into loud trills. Thereā€™s a good chance youā€™ll hear one of these birds before seeing them.

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Red-Winged Blackbird Location

Red-winged blackbirds appear across North America year-round, mostly in the United States and parts of Mexico. They either stay in the same area or migrate short distances (within 800 miles of where they breed). 

During the breeding season, theyā€™re more common in Canada, and during the nonbreeding season, they may appear in more areas of Mexico. These birds typically breed during March and April.

Identifying Red-Winged Blackbirds

Like many bird species, male and female red-winged blackbirds have unique appearances. Hereā€™s what each one looks like.

Male Red-Winged Blackbird

Males of this species have a unique appearance thatā€™s hard to miss.

Breeding males have sleek black feathers everywhere except the tops of their wings, which are bright red with a white or yellow patch underneath.

A Perched Male Red-winged Blackbird.
Image by Frank1556 via Flickr.

Outside of the breeding season, they have duller black feathers and smaller red patches.

Some males have slight regional differences. For example, some red-winged blackbirds in California donā€™t have a yellow or white border around their red patch.

Female Red-Winged Blackbird

A female red-winged blackbird doesnā€™t have any black or red. Instead, these birds are brown from beak to tail.

They have darker brown feathers on their backs and patches of dark and light brown scattered across their bellies.

A Close-up Shot of a Female Red-winged Blackbird.
Image by Sue Milks via Flickr.

They easily blend in with other brown birds, so you need to observe their features closely.

Similarities

While males and females have drastically different feather colors, their overall size and shape are the same.

These blackbirds are stocky with a slender, conical bill. They have a medium-length tail. These blackbirds sometimes appear hump-backed in their silhouettes, and males often sit with their tail feathers spread out.

Both males and females are 6.7 to 9.1 inches long. They have a wingspan of 12.2 to 15.8 inches and weigh 1.1 to 2.7 ounces. Theyā€™re about the same size as a robin.

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The size and shape of red-winged blackbirds may vary depending on the subspecies. Different populations have slight differences, likely because of their environments.

Juveniles

If adult males and females look so different, what do juveniles look like?

In most cases, they look like the females. They have a brown pattern of varying shades. As the males mature, their feathers get darker, but you may still see remnants of the brown markings among the black feathers.

A Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird.
Image by Henrietta Oke via Flickr.

The red wing patch doesnā€™t come in until after the bird gets black feathers.

Eggs

Female red-winged blackbirds lay 2 to 4 eggs per clutch.

These eggs are pale blue-green with a few dark markings. Theyā€™re small, typically measuring 0.9 to 1.1 inches long and 0.6 to 0.8 inches wide.

A Nest of Four Blackbird Eggs.
Image by Bonnie Ott via Flickr.

Both males and females protect the nest when there are eggs or young birds in it.

Red-Winged Blackbird Behaviors

During the breeding season (spring), you can easily see the iconic red and black feathers on the males. While this is the best time to admire these birds, itā€™s also the best time to keep your distance. Males can be aggressive and territorial, especially when itā€™s time to breed.

Luckily, these birds rarely attack people, but they may target other animals. If males think another bird is coming near their territory or nest, they may swoop at them, attack them, and chase them away. They also do the same for predators.

While males typically use loud calls to attract mates, they may also make warning calls when feeling defensive. If they sense a threat, they often make a fast ā€œchak chak chakā€ sound to scare the creature away. Give these birds space to ensure you never have to hear their bold alarm calls.

A Blackbird Chases Off a Red-shouldered Hawk.
Image by Pedro Lastra via Flickr.

These birds eat some insects, other invertebrates, and berries, but seeds make up most of their diet. They typically search for seeds and grains on the ground.

How to Attract a Red-Winged Blackbird

If you live in this blackbirdā€™s range, you might want to attract them to your yard to observe their beauty.

The most effective method is to spread corn, oats, and/or millet on the ground. These birds feel more comfortable eating off the ground than on a feeder. So, even though it might look messy, both male and female red-winged blackbirds will love it.

Sometimes, these birds will use feeders, but only if the feeder has plenty of space for them to perch without feeling crowded. Platform feeders and vertical feeders with large trays may work well. They love feeders filled with a sunflower mix.

These birds donā€™t use birdhouses and nesting boxes. They typically build their nests near the ground in marshes. They build the nests among tall vegetation rather than using a secure crevice. So, nesting boxes arenā€™t appealing environments for these birds.

Look Out for Male & Female Red-Winged Blackbirds

The red-winged blackbird is a unique species.

While the males are hard to miss because of their loud calls and bold colors, females easily blend in. Males have sleek black feathers and a red wing patch while females have brown feather patterns. Theyā€™re both beautiful birds despite looking like two separate species.

If you live in North America, thereā€™s a good chance youā€™ll see these birds at some point. Keep an eye out for them on tall plants near marshes. Even if you donā€™t see them, you may hear the loud calls from the males. Just make sure you keep your distance when observing them.

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