A Few Degrees of Separation
One of the things that change during the day time in Summer is that my bird feeders get crowded with larger birds that are more apt to resist the hot weather. Most little birds simply disappear until the sun start to set in the horizon, when temperature drops a few degrees, much more agreeable to the smaller birds.
Among the larger birds that you mostly find are Grackles, Cowbirds, Mockingbirds, Doves, Blackbirds, Cardinals.
My feature bird for today’s post is the Red-winged Blackbird. If you ask me, these birds are quite handsome and are well defined specimens. The possess strong bills, large wings and tails to power their flight effortless despite their body size. They have long legs and large tarsi and talus that provide strong perching ability.
Their plumage is somehow flamboyant with their red, yellow and white shoulder in contrast with the black of the body color, never the less striking.
Here I bring you a few samples of these beautiful birds. Enjoy!
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
They are lovely birds, but so territorial! My parents had a pair nesting in their front yard this year. They had to carry an umbrella to keep from being dive-bombed when they went outside lol.
If they have nests close by they’ll be protecting it. Northern Mockingbirds in particular have a tendency to dive-bomb. 🙂 They don’t mean harm. Thanks Eden for sharing.
VERY handsome ! – and I particularly love the approaching shot. 🙂
I think so! Thanks M-R 🙂
A very nice set of pictures.
Thanks Tom! 🙂
Superb, yet again HJ, thank you!
Thank you Barbara, I appreciate it! 🙂
Your beautiful blackbirds look like ours, but they are not “red-winged” – males have a yellow beak. And they are good singers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX0E9dv-r6M
Thank you!
There are differences but basically they are related. Thanks Frederic! 🙂
Very striking, H.J. Love your photos every time. 🙂
Thank you very much Christine! 🙂