Photo: Tsuru8 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tricolored Blackbird
Agelaius tricolor
Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 57.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Agelaius
- Species tricolor
Where it lives
California, northern Baja California (northwestern Mexico)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 57.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tricolored Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Tricolored Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA California, n Baja California (nw Mexico).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 57.9 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 8.3 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 114,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tricolored Blackbird?
The Tricolored Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 57.9 g.
Where does the Tricolored Blackbird live?
The Tricolored Blackbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA California, n Baja California (nw Mexico), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Tricolored Blackbird belong to?
The Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tricolored Blackbird eat?
The Tricolored Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tricolored Blackbird migrate?
The Tricolored Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Tricolored Blackbird endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Tricolored Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Tricolored Blackbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tricolored Blackbird's range?
The Tricolored Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 114,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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