Red-winged blackbirds hang out here year round. This fellow repeatedly chortled his song as I took his picture and each time he did he displayed his wings. We thought he was showing off for nearby ladies but my Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior calls it a territorial display. Sort of a birdie version of “MySpace.”
I love that shoulder patch. It’s a great flash of color in winter.
Nice to see a red winged black bird. They are one of the first birds to return here in the spring.
Super capture, Kay. Both the black and red are intense shades . . . it’s a lovely photo and should be published in a bird or garden book.
Alright, now you’re just showing off! Fantastic photo. Frame it and hang it, again! This is just a gorgeous shot in every way – it’s framed perfectly, the light is wonderful and that bird is sharp as a tack. The splash of red makes the whole thing zing!
He looks like he’s showing off! Great shot.
Wow – fabulous shot – I still have yet to get a really good photo of a red winged blackbird – they always flit off so fast, or are too far away. But we do hear them down by the ponds – love the sound and last night we heard a frog.
We get them here in the spring and summer. They can be extremely territorial and aggressive during nesting season.
We have a few red-winged blackbirds here all year long too, but most of them are hiding in amongst the cattails. 😉
I know this bird, but don’t spot them very often when I am in Connecticut.