Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Female. Photograph courtesy of Barry Mastro, Escondido, California. Identification courtesy of Julie McGhee, Loma Linda, California.

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Female. Photograph taken within the Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Victorville, California, March 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of Julie McGhee, Riverside, California.

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Male. Photograph taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Male. Photographs taken within the Everglades National Park, South Florida, October 2022. Photographs and identification courtesy of Faith Hubsch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Male. Photograph taken in the greater San Diego area, San Diego, California, February 2022.

The Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, is a member of the Icteriidae Family of Troupials and Allies that includes Grackles, New World Blackbirds and Orioles. They are medium in stature. They are found throughout Mexico with the exception of the central mountainous regions and are known to elevations up to 2,800 m (9,000 feet). From a conservation perspective the Red-winged Blackbird is currently considered to be of Least Concern; however, their populations are believed to be decreasing. They are found in marshes, bushy swamps and along the edges of freshwater. They consume insects and seasonal berries and seeds when available.