Where are the Blackbirds?
Through the Spring and Summer so far, I have seen a minimum amount of blackbirds compared to previous years. I know the seasons have been weird lately I guess that possibly makes a change for birds migration and mating chronology. I can understand that, is like when people from the north of USA go to Florida for winter, something of the sort.
From the blackbirds family I get to see often in my backyard are the Red-winged Blackbirds, featured today on this post.
They are a bit crazy and a bit clumsy because of their size but they big for eating for sure!
I love their shoulder bright plumage, especially when they get mad, their red feathers flash a rich bright flaming red.
Very cool stuff! 🙂
Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
I think that there is a subtle beauty to the Red Winged Blackbird. I am always amazed at the different species of birds you are able to capture 🙂
I can’t help it, it’s my charming personality! 🙂 Thanks MD!
I enjoy the chips and chatter of red-winged black birds. They are the only species of black bird that I don’t mind having at my feeders. 🙂
Thank you for sharing NW! 🙂
Nice shots, H.J. As for the whereabouts of the RWBB’s, I think they’re busy housekeeping and feeding. I noticed a drop in their omnipresence too lately. When the males show up here and start setting up territories it’s non-stop (“How many you estimate – 40, 50, 60?”) and then suddenly everything goes quiet. They disappear. They’re on the Q.T. Even at Millennium Park they don’t beg for peanuts anymore. 😦
Thank you Lisa! It’s a bit hard for me to keep count because I do not get them all at once, just this morning I saw a bunch of RWB and were in company of about a dozen BHCowbirds. They come an go all throughout the day! 🙂
I’m not sure where you are located geographically, but I’m in Eastern Massachusetts and haven’t seen any red-winged blackbirds yet all year, where usually I see many. In one particular location, grackles seem to have taken over the usual nesting areas, so that may be partly to blame, along with this past winter’s harsh weather, and a freak May snowfall here. One of my favorite memories of the red-winged blackbird was watching one try to deter a great blue heron placidly sitting on the shore of a pond, too close to the blackbord’s nest.
I live in Georgia’s Northwest area by the way. The erratic weather patterns has made the migrations of certain birds scarce and random. The RWB very often travel in flocks with the Grackles and get along well so I don’t see any sign of conflict there.
Thank you very much for sharing your observations. I wish I get more from other followers too! 🙂
You’re welcome, and thanks for letting me know about the RWB-Grackle connection. Curiously, the grackles also have taken over a couple of spots that the Baltimore Orioles used for nesting here for years. Is there a similar connection there, too?
Keep in mind that B.Orioles, Grackles and RWB are related- Blackbirds family.
Aha, I didn’t know that! Thanks.
Also, re grackles. I have observed them mobbing a red tailed hawk, and have photographed one perched on the hawk’s shoulder area while in flight. I was pretty amazed by that, but then I googled and found a few other shots of birds Hitchhiking on hawks.
I’ve seen photos of that event also. The closest I’ve seen is N. Mockingbird chasing a Cooper’s Hawk and in another occasion another N. Mockingbird chasing and attacking fiercely a Crow with a NM nestling in his beak. Thank you for sharing! 🙂