Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Greg Gillson
Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most abundant and widespread birds in North America. They are year-round residents throughout most of the United States. They are summer residents across Canada and in parts of Alaska.
They are easily attracted to bird feeders, especially in winter.
How do you attract Red-winged Blackbirds to your feeder? Follow these suggestions to attract Red-winged Blackbirds to your yard.
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| Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson |
Why attract Red-winged Blackbirds to your bird feeder?
The glossy black males with startling red and yellow shoulders are really beautiful birds. Many people really love their bold colors.
These birds are bold and conspicuous. They are usually found in noisy, active flocks. They bring some excitement and personality to the bird feeders when they come.
Females are streaked and may look like sparrows. They are smaller than the males. But they have the long-pointed blackbird bill. This is an interesting example of sexual dimorphism, when males and females are quite different.
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| Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson |
What foods will attract Red-winged Blackbirds to your feeder?
Red-winged Blackbirds eat all kinds of foods at your feeder.
They especially like grains: cracked corn, wheat, oats, milo, millet and similar grains that many sparrows and finches do not eat. They are not picky.
They will also eat sunflower seeds.
The best mixed bird seed that I have found is Wagner’s Songbird Supreme. It is 50% sunflower seeds and doesn’t have any cheap filler seed that birds won’t eat. This seed attracts the largest variety of birds to your feeder.
They will also eat seed blocks, such as those made to attract quail.
They will eat live mealworms, and probably dried, also.
They are highly attracted to suet.
For my home feeders, I always purchase St Albans Bay Suet blocks. It comes in several flavors, including peanut and berry. They fit in required special suet cages, which are a type of bird feeder.
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| Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson |
What kind of feeders do Red-winged Blackbirds like?
Red-winged Blackbirds will eat from any large feeder. The larger the better for these birds that usually come to feeders in flocks.
A large platform feeder is probably the best for these birds. The covered roof help keeps the seed dry.
Even so, Red-winged Blackbirds will probably prefer to eat seeds and grain right from the ground.
Where to place your bird feeder for Red-winged Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds prefer to eat on the ground or from low bird feeders.
But they will eat from any large bird feeder at any height.
When feeding in flocks they are not shy. So, it really doesn’t matter where you place the feeder in your yard.
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| Female Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson |
How else can you attract Red-winged Blackbirds to your yard?
In the summer, Red-winged Blackbirds live in wetlands, especially cattail marshes.
In the winter, Red-winged Blackbirds form large flocks in agricultural fields and cattle feedlots.
They are also found in large parking lots in shopping centers where there are drive-through restaurants. There they eat spilled French fries, bread, and other scraps of human food.
So, if you live near these areas, you are likely to have Red-winged Blackbirds visit your yard.
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| Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson |
Problems with Red-winged Blackbirds: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
Okay, the truth is, Red-winged Blackbirds can be too rambunctious for some people. The large flocks can empty a bird feeder in minutes and chase off smaller birds.
If you have more Red-winged Blackbirds than you’d like, try these things to discourage them.
Switch to a smaller tube feeder with no tray. Blackbirds will have a hard time getting their head in the feeding port from a short perch. They just can’t easily twist their longer body around to reach inside.
Stop feeding suet and cheap mixed seed. Blackbirds really like the small seeds that other birds toss out of the feeder.
Don’t put out any human food scraps.
Clean up any seed spilled on the ground. Then feed only as much seed as the other birds eat in a few hours in the morning. Then let birds clean up the ground under the feeders.
Switch to feeding Niger seed from a thistle feeder. Blackbirds don’t really eat these small seeds. But Goldfinches, siskins, and some finches will eat them.
I really love the way my iBorn tube feeder looks, with it’s copper top. A screwdriver takes off the lower perch and opens it up for cleaning. This feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds attracts all types of finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. The smaller perches and lack of tray mean that you’ll have fewer House Sparrows, Starlings, Doves, and Jays at this feeder.
I bought a Nature’s Way Upside-down suet feeder a couple years ago and have been very happy with it. Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, and woodpeckers eat from it easily. But starlings, blackbirds, and jays can’t hang upside down to get at the suet.
Wrapping Up
The vibrant red and yellow shoulder patches on the male Red-winged Blackbird serve several important functions:
Attracting mates: These bright colors act as visual signals during the breeding season to attract females. Their boldness and contrast against the glossy black plumage make them highly conspicuous and attention-grabbing. Studies show that females prefer males with larger and brighter epaulettes, suggesting a link between color intensity and reproductive success.
Territorial defense: The red and yellow patches also play a role in establishing and defending territories. When threatened by rivals, males fluff up their feathers, making the epaulettes even more prominent. This visual display serves as a warning to other males to stay away, reducing the risk of fights and protecting resources for their potential mate and future offspring.
Social communication: Beyond mate attraction and territorial defense, the epaulettes might also convey other social information, such as a male’s health, dominance, or aggression levels. Subtle variations in color shade or display intensity could be perceived by other individuals and influence their behavior or interactions.
Evolutionary adaptation: Over time, through the process of natural selection, these red and yellow markings have become increasingly important for the survival and reproductive success of male Red-winged Blackbirds. Birds with bolder and more conspicuous epaulettes were likely more successful in attracting mates and defending territories, passing on these genes to future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the female Red-winged Blackbird look so different?
There are several key reasons why female Red-winged Blackbirds look so different from the males, with their striking red and yellow epaulettes:
Sexual Dimorphism: This difference in appearance between male and female individuals of the same species is known as sexual dimorphism. In Red-winged Blackbirds, it serves two main purposes:
- Reduced Predation Risk: Females lack the conspicuous red and yellow patches, making them more camouflaged in their environment. This is crucial while nesting and caring for young as they become less vulnerable to predators. Their brown-streaked plumage blends in with vegetation, providing some level of protection for themselves and their offspring.
- Energy Conservation: Producing and maintaining bright plumage requires more energy. By lacking the elaborate colors, females can allocate their resources more efficiently towards egg development, incubation, and chick rearing.
Evolutionary Advantage: Over time, natural selection has favored these differences in appearance. Females who were better camouflaged and conserved energy had a higher chance of successfully raising their offspring, passing on these traits to future generations. Similarly, males with brighter and more conspicuous epaulettes were more likely to attract mates and defend their territories, perpetuating these genes through their male descendants.
Why are Red-winged Blackbirds aggressive?
The aggressive behavior of Red-winged Blackbirds, particularly males during breeding season, arises from a combination of factors related to territory defense and mate attraction:
Protecting Resources: During the breeding season, male Red-winged Blackbirds establish and fiercely defend territories rich in food and nesting sites, crucial for attracting mates and raising young. Their aggression towards perceived threats, including humans, stems from the need to protect these valuable resources and ensure offspring survival.
Mate Attraction: Their bold plumage and aggressive displays also serve as signals to attract females. Females often select mates based on factors like territory size, quality, and the male’s ability to defend it aggressively. So, displaying aggression can be seen as a form of advertisement, demonstrating their strength and suitability as potential partners.
Misinterpretation of Threats: While Red-winged Blackbirds might perceive humans as intruders or potential predators, especially near their nests, it’s important to remember they aren’t inherently malicious. Their aggressive behavior, like swooping dives and loud calls, is primarily a defensive strategy driven by their instincts to protect their young and secure their territory.
Where do red wing blackbirds live?
Red-winged Blackbirds have a vast and impressive range, covering a large portion of North America. Here’s a breakdown of their typical habitat and distribution:
Breeding habitat:
- Primarily found in wetlands of various types, including marshes, swamps, bogs, and flooded fields.
- They also utilize flooded meadows, grasslands with wet areas, and even rice paddies in some regions.
- Preference for areas with tall vegetation like cattails, reeds, or bulrushes for nesting and cover.
- Can be found in both freshwater and saltwater wetlands.
Non-breeding range:
- During winter, populations in northern areas migrate south, generally within North America.
- Wintering grounds extend from southern Canada and the northern United States south to Mexico and Central America.
- They utilize a wider variety of habitats during winter, including open fields, agricultural lands, pastures, and even urban areas where they can find food and roosting sites.
Overall distribution:
- Found throughout most of Canada, the continental United States, and northern Mexico.
- Absent from the extreme northern reaches of Canada and Alaska.
- Not present in Central America except for wintering populations.
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