Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 50.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Agelaius
- Species phoeniceus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look strikingly different: the male is glossy black with bright red shoulder epaulets bordered below by a pale yellow (yellowish-white) bar, while the female is dark brown and heavily streaked with a pale eyebrow and a sparrow-like look (often with a faint yellowish wash near the bill).
Juvenile appearance
Resembles the female but paler below with buff feather fringes; young males are blotchy and take until about 13-15 months to attain full adult plumage.
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-winged Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Red-winged Blackbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 8.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 13.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-winged Blackbird?
The Red-winged Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.8 g.
Where does the Red-winged Blackbird live?
The Red-winged Blackbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-winged Blackbird belong to?
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-winged Blackbird eat?
The Red-winged Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red-winged Blackbird migrate?
The Red-winged Blackbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-winged Blackbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-winged Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Red-winged 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 Red-winged Blackbird's range?
The Red-winged Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 13.7 million 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
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Red-winged Blackbird vs Brewer’s Blackbird: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Red-winged Blackbird from a Brewer’s Blackbird — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.