Bird Species

Red-Winged Blackbirds

These social birds are remarkably intelligent and capable of learning from one another. They are able to observe how other birds react to food and then avoid or consume it based on their observation.

Understand the Problem

Issues Caused By
Red-Winged Blackbirds

While red wing blackbirds are beautiful, they are not friendly. Red wing blackbirds are aggressive during nesting season towards people and pets. They are known to dive-bomb humans to protect their nests and young. Red wing blackbirds can be a particular nuisance to farms, damaging and eating crops, particularly corn, rice and sunflower.

Solutions

How to Manage Issues
with Red-Winged Blackbirds

Red wing blackbirds and their nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and cannot be harmed in any way. In order to manage red wing blackbirds legally and compliantly, we typically recommend the following solutions:

Diverse Range of Species

Learn More About the Species

Appearance

Red-winged Blackbirds are around the size of a robin. They are sexually dimorphic, which means the males and females look different. Males are pitch black with bright red and yellow patches on their shoulders. Females are a streaky cryptic brown to help them camouflage.

Behavior

Red-winged blackbirds are extremely territorial during nesting and will attack anything that comes too close to their nesting grounds. This includes pets, people, and other birds. When not nesting, they will flock together with other blackbirds for safety.

Diet

Red-winged blackbirds are omnivorous, eating primarily insects in summer and seeds in fall and winter. They can do damage to crops.

Habitat

Traditionally wetland birds, red-winged blackbirds have expanded their range to include many urban environments due to the prevalence of retention ponds. When flocking and migrating, they follow their food source, mobbing feeders and agricultural crops.

Nesting

Red-winged blackbirds prefer tall vegetation like cattails to weave their cup like nests into. However, they will nest in trees and bushes as well. They are harem breeders, with one male holding a territory and breeding with multiple females. They are very aggressive and territorial while nesting.

Migration

Red-winged blackbirds are resident birds in the Midwest, only migrating short distances to find food and water. They typically do not go far from their nesting areas year round.

Protected Status

Yes, red wing black birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US.

Sources: The Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird guide, Humane Society of the United States, Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, Nest Watch