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Expedition 🇺🇸 United States

Red-winged Blackbird in United States

The marsh sentinel — a glossy blackbird whose scarlet shoulder patches blaze when males defend their territory from fence posts and cattails.

Red-winged Blackbird

The species

The red-winged blackbird is one of North America's most abundant and conspicuous birds. Males perch prominently on reeds and wires, singing a scratchy konk-la-ree! while flashing their red-and-yellow shoulder patches — epaulets that signal aggression to rivals and status to females.

Habitat in United States

Freshwater marshes, cattail wetlands, and damp meadows are classic red-wing country, though the species also nests in damp fields, roadside ditches, and suburban ponds. They forage on seeds, insects, and grain in fields after breeding season.

Where to spot one

  • Central Park

    New York City

    Urban ponds for mallards, pigeons on the paths, and sparrows in every shrub — a compact starter loop in Manhattan.

  • Golden Gate Park

    San Francisco

    Lakes, meadows, and tree cover where common birds and park wildlife turn an afternoon stroll into a discovery session.

  • Suburban Park Systems

    Nationwide

    Local green spaces across the US — pond edges, playground perimeters, and dog-walking trails where the everyday species gather.

  • Neighbourhood Streets

    Nationwide

    Front gardens, fence lines, and café patios — where house cats watch from walls and sparrows squabble over crumbs.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Red-winged blackbirds are Least Concern with a vast and stable population. Wetland drainage reduces nesting habitat locally, but the species adapts well to agricultural landscapes.

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