Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Red-Winged Blackbird!

These beauties have been a particular pursuit of mine...to photograph one and get the markings clear.  A few months ago I missed a drive-by of an entire flock taking wing...no place to stop, no time to get the camera aimed.  I have lamented that fact ever since.

This is the best I have ever been able to do with them - I will not give up!





On a trip to Missouri, along I-64, through Indiana, there were red-wings on fence posts along a stretch of road...seemed to be evenly spaced.  I thought it odd, almost like they were guarding their territory.  I looked them up when I got to my computer and found this information, courtesy of Wikipedia.

"The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of MexicoMexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and northwestern Costa Rica. It may winter as far north as Pennsylvania and British Columbia, but northern populations are generally migratory, moving south to Mexico and the southern United States. Claims have been made that it is the most abundant and best studied bird in North America.[2] The Red-winged Blackbird is sexually dimorphic; the male is all black with a red shoulder and yellow wing bar, while the female is a nondescript dark brown. Seeds and insects make up the bulk of the Red-winged Blackbird's diet.

The range of the Red-winged Blackbird stretches from southern Alaska to the Yucatan peninsula in the south, and from the western coast of California and Canada to the east coast of the continent. Red-winged Blackbirds in the northern reaches of the range are migratory, spending winters in the southernUnited States and Central America. Migration begins in September or October, but occasionally as early as August. In western and middle America, populations are generally non-migratory. [14]
The Red-winged Blackbird inhabits open grassy areas. It generally prefers wetlands, and inhabits both freshwater and saltwater marshes, particularly if Typha (cattail) is present. It is also found in dry upland areas, where it inhabits meadows, prairies, and old fields."

That sure was a lot of information...which I will quickly forget!  I just know I like them!

 Linking to the Bird D'pot and Wild Bird Wednesday

15 comments:

Dianna said...

They ARE beautiful birds. That little strip of red always catches my eye!

Pat said...

I understand how you feel. This is one of my favorite birds and I have yet to get a really nice shot.
I do like the shot you have of this beauty perching atop a cattail!

Hootin Anni said...

Mmmmmmmmmm, I love to hear them singing in the meadows and countryside as we go walking and birding. They ARE beautiful!!!

Don't forget to go back and leave a link. That is, if you want to do so.

TexWisGirl said...

we get the hordes of them - eating us out of house and home - for months in winter. by the hundreds, if not thousands. but, i keep feeding them so they can make it back up north again for summer. :)

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I know all too well the lamenting of missed photo ops while driving. This is especially so while in the Little House on the Highway. I see something, it takes a moment to process the fact "I should get a picture of that" then bringing a small moving house to a stop and finding a place to do so...by now I am a half a mile down the road. "Ah forget it..grrrr"

Dave said...

mega header - awesome shot and an awe inspiring place to be I am sure. Didnt quite get that far up when I last visited.... never got out of the pubs of Westport

Unknown said...

They are beauties!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

We have red-winged blackbirds nesting by our pond every year. They are a beautiful bird and I have had a hard time getting a really good shot of them. You got some really nice shots!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

That's a beautiful bird, Linda and you have captured it very well. Thanks for the interesting information, too.

eileeninmd said...

Linda, great shots of the RW Blackbird. Their bits of color are pretty. Great post and info.

mick said...

Great photos of beautiful birds. I hope you are able to get even closer some time!

Red said...

Black birds make themselves well known in several ways. They are attractive and can make a lot of noise.

Brian King said...

It's great when they perch on reeds and small trees. It makes for a beautiful background. Love these photos!

Stewart M said...

Hi there - red-winged blackbirds feature in the opening pages of one of my favourite books - and I wanted to see them in the flesh (feather?) for a long time. This is not really the same - but its getting there.

Cheers and thanks for linking you post to WBW - SM

PerthDailyPhoto said...

You've got some pretty cool shots here Linda, I'd be well happy with them..you can see the red flash really clearly..gorgeous little creature.