BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Birding Red-winged Black birds

Thank-you to Claybird who explained the difference between USA and UK birds.(see the Christmas bird count thread to understand.)

The reason I'm writing this now is this morning I had a red-winged black bird at my backyard feeder. I've had feeders for years but never saw one at a feeder before. It was very exciting because the feeder is close to the back door so I got a very clear view of it!

Spring is unusually late arriving here this year so I hope the birds aren't too stressed.

Congratulations, Helen! Red-wings don't usually come to feeders, they mainly focus on marshes and wet areas. I've only rarely seen one at my feeders.
They're not exactly great singers but I do love their "conk-a-reee!" call, it sounds so free and joyful. The way I feel in spring!

We just returned from a trip to Missouri and were completely amazed to be driving through a Red-Wing "convention." As soon as we were west of Memphis they were everywhere, all the way to Missouri. We tried to count them, but gave up after over 100 in less than 50 miles. They are so rare in Southeast GA, it was a treat to see them flitting about in the fields along the highway.

We also saw a few wood storks and hawks. I was a bit disappointed in not seeing more hawks, but then the weather was crazy this past weekend.

I sometimes wonder if Redwinged Blackbirds are the most plentiful bird in the USA, certainly they must be right up there. I don't think there is any road in the midwest and plains states that isn't lined with Redwings. You generally seem to see one male on a fence post or tree every 100 yards or so. It's those drainage ditches along the roadsides that are such a Redwing magnet, I think.

In Washoe Valley, Nevada, the redwinged blackbird congregates in pastures close to water, usually marsh lands. They often come into my mother's backyard to the birdfeeders and she enjoys them so much. I did not realize till I saw them myself last week that they have such a loud, shrill whistle. They are so pretty.

We see more and more red-winged black birds at our feeders and in the neighbourhood every year. More and more marshes are being filled in to build more houses(I don't know where the people come from).

I wish more builders would build sensibly, leaving behind sections of green or marsh areas.

In our area and all along the west coast it is illegal to build in "wet-lands" and they have to be kept natural for the wildlife which live there. I would hate to see such beautiful birds disappear due to new homes being built.

I think the reason I'm seeing the red wings at my feeder every day is the new subdivision going up next to our property. Their regular marshy/field habitat is gone and they are using what ever resources are available. I'm glad I can help, but it saddens me to see it happen.

I love red winged blackbirds We see a few around our feeders, but I mostly see them perched in marshes, looking out over their domain. It's so fun to see them.

Interestingly, I'm not sure that I have any photos of one!

Only once have I seen them and they are beautiful. There was a flock of them under a feeder at my mother's house. They were there for about an hour and then they disappeared. I guess they were on their way to somewhere else and just dropped by to enjoy my mother's beautiful garden.