Appearance: Red-winged blackbirds are medium-sized jet black birds about 8 1/2″ long with red and yellow patches on the shoulder of their upper wings. They have pointy black bill. The females are brown and heavily streaked. She has white eyebrows and a brown bill.
Winter diet: Seeds, grains, and berries if there are any leftover on the trees & shrubs..
Winter feeder food: Black-oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet.
Winter habitat: The red-winged blackbirds that traveled north for breeding will head back south for the winter around the September-December timeframe. The birds that stayed back in their year-round range for breeding remain for winter which is all of the US, British Columbia, far southern parts of Ontario, and Mexico. In winter they gather in large flocks, often with grackles, cowbirds, and starlings. It wouldn’t be uncommon to see them in your backyard.
Range Map
