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FEBRUARY 2006 BIRD OF THE MONTH |
RED RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS
OUR TRUE HARBINGERS OF SPRING
By Linda de Kort
CLICK HERE FOR .PDF VERSION
February seems to be a time when we begin to question the length of
our winter. Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow on February 2? Will we
have 6 more weeks of misty skies and crystalline trees? One of the reassuring
events of this month is the reliable return of the Red-winged Blackbirds—
Flathead County’s true harbingers of spring.
The Red-winged Blackbird (red-wing) is a common summer resident and uncommon winter bird in
the Flathead Valley. It is 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 blazing scarlet bordered with a yellowish band. The pointed bill, eyes, and feet are black. Male
red-wings do not completely attain full adult plumage until their third year. Females and young look completely
different from the dazzling males; they resemble oversized sparrows. The back of a female is
blackish brown streaked with buff and chestnut. The head is streaked with buffy eyebrows, brown cheeks,
and darker eye stripes. The throat is pale, the breast and belly are whitish with heavy dark streaking.
According to Cornell Ornithological Laboratory, the red-wing's body is adapted to its lifestyle here
in marshy areas. Red-wings have sturdy legs with muscles designed to allow them to do the "splits" if they
are perched on two different cattails at once. Their feathers are hardy and resist wear and tear as they
move about in cattail blades. They have a relatively long intestine, allowing them to digest a wide variety of
foods, from grains to slugs.
Red-wings have many vocalizations. The common “okalee”
song is to warn other males off the territory and to
attract mates. The “chip” call is given by males and
females in many situations as a general contact call and
alerts group members to danger. There is also the “chap”
call, “sputter” call, “twitter” call, and whistle. By
logging onto
Journey North
you can hear these interesting vocalizations and track the annual return of the red-wings.
In January most red-wings are still on wintering grounds in the Southern and Central U.S., putting
on fat for the coming spring migration. In February male red-wings that breed here start to migrate
north. This is when we will hear the first trumpets heralding spring (“O-KA-LEEE”) and see the characteristic
territorial displays as they balance on the highest marsh plant and spread their tail and wings, exposing
their scarlet epaulet feathers. Early March is the peak male migration with females arriving later in the
month. In April we can observe extravagant male territorial behavior while the females are nesting and first
eggs are hatching. The open-cup nest is built low to the ground. An average of 3 eggs are laid and are
incubated for 10-12 days. Birds are exceptionally wary when crows or hawks fly over nesting marshes at
this time. Cornell Ornithological Lab reports that the Red-winged Blackbird is a highly
polygamous species,
with one male having up to 15 different females making nests in his territory. The females are also not
bound to one mate; many of the eggs in a nest so fiercely defended by a territorial male may actually be
sired by neighboring males. By May, many young are hatching and will fledge by 14 days old. Re-nesting
and rearing young keep red-wings very busy the whole month of June. Nesting is finishing up by early
July, and adults are starting to molt. By August, most young have fledged and are on their own. This is the
peak month for molting body and flight feathers. The birds will remain inconspicuous during this vulnerable
time. In September birds gather in large feeding flocks, putting on fat in preparation for migration and winter.
And in October, migration is complete. In November and December, “our” red-wings are back in the
Great Plains feeding in huge flocks, though some stragglers may remain. According to Dan Casey, these
wintering birds are usually in flocks around reliable food sources such as feedlots and consist mostly of
juvenile males. Over the past 10 years, Flathead Audubon members have found an average of 215 redwings
on the Bigfork Christmas Bird Count, with a high count of 519 in 1999.
The mature males will be returning to the wetlands of the Flathead soon. If you are fortunate to
have a wetland close by, listen for their proclamations and be assured that spring is in the air. |
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