The Flickr Sargentoalirrojo Image Generatr

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)
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Another of the very common species in the area. A Flickr friend recently posted photos of a female blackbird with red shoulder patches, and I realized that I had never noticed or photographed this colouring. Apparently, they are the older, dominant females in the territory. So, I went on the hunt for one and there she was, in beautiful light and happy to be photographed. She actually has a fair amount of reddish colouring on her face, too.

Trans-Canada Trail, Stittsville, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.

Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)
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We can't go anywhere right now without a flock of blackbirds. The males arrive early to stake out the best nesting spots while the females take their time to arrive. This male was singing to attract one of the few females to have arrived so far.

Holland's Marsh, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. April 2023.

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)
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Early spring arrival seeking suitable nesting site so that he can entice a female to join him in parenthood.

Stoney Swamp, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2022.

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)
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A common bird across North America, but always a pleasure to see as it stakes out the reed beds and defends its territory quite vigorously.

Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada. June 2022.

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)

Red-winged Blackbirds are very territorial and protective of their nests. They will attack anything that gets too close to their nests. This male was eyeing me, making sure that I kept my distance.

Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2022.

Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. (eBird)

This was my nemesis for the first three years of my birding "career". I could never ID these pretty females and probably drove the local experts nuts with my questions. Now, I know better.

Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. April 2022.

Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Sargento alirrojo - Red Winged Black Bird - (Agelaius phoeniceus) - male

Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Lake Ida Park, Delray Beach, Florida

A Red-winged Blackbird at the Maplelawn Garden in Westboro (Ottawa), Ontario, Canada.

The garden at Maplelawn is a rare example of a 19th century walled garden. The house and walled garden are very well preserved and provide a living record of how European architectural and landscape concepts were transplanted to Canada. The selection of plants, shrubs and trees is based on a number of historical records.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has been the steward of Maplelawn Garden since the 1950s. In 1989, Maplelawn was designated a national historic site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

A male in his possessions