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Red Wing Blackbird

What is red wing blackbird?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Common name Red-winged Blackbird[1]
Scientific name Agelaius phoeniceus[1]
Family Icteridae[3]
Average size 7-9 inches in length[3]
Diet Seeds and insects[3]
Average life span 2 years[3]

The red-winged blackbird is a common North American bird known for the male's red shoulder patches, found in marshes and fields across the continent.

Context

The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a North American bird in the blackbird family, known for the male's red shoulder patches called epaulets [3]. It is common in marshes, meadows, and fields [3]. The species breeds across Canada and the United States, south to Costa Rica [2]. It is one of North America's most abundant birds [3].

Documented claims

  • Males have red shoulder patches that are visible when resting and flash while flying. [3]
  • The species is found in fresh and saltwater marshes, shrubs, pasture, wet roadsides, meadows, and old fields. [3]
  • It is one of North America's most abundant birds. [3]
  • Some populations are year-round residents in the U.S., while others are short-distance migrants within North America. [3]

Questions and answers

What does a female red-winged blackbird look like?

The source does not describe the female's appearance.

Are red-winged blackbirds native to Canada?

Yes, they breed across Canada and the United States [2].

How rare is a red-winged blackbird?

It is one of North America's most abundant birds [3].

Sources

  1. 10 Fun Facts About the Red-winged Blackbird — audubon.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Red-winged Blackbird — allaboutbirds.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Fun Facts About Red-winged Blackbirds — wenatchee.wbu.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things