Photo: Christoph Moning / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-shouldered Blackbird
Agelaius assimilis
Red-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
The Red-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) is a member of the Icteridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 47.7 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 assimilis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 47.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Cuba.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 47.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.4 cm and a tail of around 7.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4,077 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-shouldered Blackbird?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 47.7 g.
Where does the Red-shouldered Blackbird live?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is found across North America with a range covering NA Cuba, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-shouldered Blackbird belong to?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-shouldered Blackbird eat?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-shouldered Blackbird migrate?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-shouldered 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-shouldered Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Red-shouldered Blackbird — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-shouldered Blackbird's range?
The Red-shouldered Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 4,077 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Icteridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Extinct
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.