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Red-winged
Blackbirds learn which new foods to try by carefully watching what the
other blackbirds are eating.
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Red-winged Blackbirds will often declare war on the
Marsh Wrens in their territory. Both species will eat each other's eggs.
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During the breeding season, Red-winged Blackbirds eat
mostly insects, including dragonflies, damselflies, beetles,
butterflies, and moths. In the winter, they switch to mostly seeds and
grains.
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Red-winged Blackbirds often use a feeding technique
known as gaping. By forcibly spreading open their bill in crevices, they
expose and seize insects that are hiding under sticks and stones, or in
the bases of leaves.
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Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most polygamous of
all bird species. They have been observed to have as many as 15 females
nesting in the territory of a single male. On average, a single male has
roughly five females.
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Red-winged Blackbirds fiercely defend their territory
during the breeding season. Over a quarter of the male’s time is spent
vigorously defending his territory from other males and predators. They
do not hesitate to attack much larger animals, including people.
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Red-winged Blackbirds can form huge roosts during the
winter. Up to a million birds will stay in one area at night. During the
daytime, they will disperse up to 50 miles away in search of food.
Red-winged Blackbirds commonly share their winter roosts with other
blackbird species, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds and European
Starlings.
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Large flocks of Red-winged and other blackbirds can
cause wide-scale damage to sunflower, corn and rice crops. The control
measures used to reduce this crop damage are now the major source of
adult mortality in Red-winged Blackbirds.
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Male Red-winged Blackbirds return north in the spring
ahead of the females and migrate south after the females in the fall.
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Female Red-winged Blackbirds build their nest in four
stages. Initially they weave together several supporting pieces of
vegetation and then intertwine the walls of the nest onto these
supports. The nest cup is then lined with mud and the final step is to
line the nest with a layer of fine grasses.
