I don't often see Red-winged Blackbirds so when I do, I take as many photos as I can to try to capture the red and yellow on the wings.
There were two males and a female.
The female is brownish, minus the red/yellow on the wings. She resembles a sparrow, I think.
 |
| Female Red-winged Blackbird |
These three Red-winged Blackbirds hung out for quite a while with a couple of other blackbirds/small crows.
I've heard it said that Red-winged Blackbirds are a sign that spring is on the way...
Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.
I see more and more of them around here in southern Ohio now each year. When I was small I only saw them up around the Lake Erie. Grandpa did not like them because they stole the seed corn in the fields. LOL! The males (as usual) are so pretty. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteThere was a small field near my early childhood home in Scarborough, Maine. I remember seeing redwinged blackbirds there and amongst the cattails across from our Cape Elizabeth, ME home. They were one of my favorite birds. That red bar in the wing was like magic: now you see it, now you don't! I do remember them being a harbinger of spring. Of course, birds get fooled, too...
ReplyDeleteI have had a lot of them at my feeders. But did not know the female looked like that. Good to know. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteDebbie McMurry :)
We have lots of red-winged blackbirds here in northern Oregon. I often see them at a pond we go to. But, only one season have I seen them around our house. Only recently did I realize the females were also red-winged blackbirds. Hopefully, they are correct & spring is on its way.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the blackbirds, Jan, especially the female. I'm learning to recognize more and more birds, but the females (other than cardinals, which are easy) always confuse me. I'm hoping to see some red-winged blackbirds at my house soon and that they bring spring with them!
ReplyDeleteHi Jan, it has been a while since I stopped by to leave a note. I was wondering how all the birdies have been with these colder temperatures and long winter in the East and Mid-west. Looks like yours are doing well. Our winter was non-existing this year. We stayed about 50 on most nights and the days have been very warm. I have seen so many birds this year so much earlier than in the past. They started nesting in February. Our hummingbirds build their nest beginning in December. It makes it tough to know when to prune around here.
ReplyDeleteAs I was looking at these pictures, I was thinking about how these particular red winged blackbirds are not really showing the start of spring!
ReplyDeleteThey do come back around in spring. All birds were singing and dancing in my back yard this morning. Still a little cold for me -- I can't even find the mood to start my indoor seeds.
ReplyDeleteRay