Species Spotlight: Red-winged Blackbird

Introduction of the Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most iconic sounds of spring in Canada. That conk-a-ree call, echoing across the marsh, is a soundtrack to the season—and a bold reminder that not all birds are shy.

Physical Description of the Red-winged Blackbird

Males are glossy black with bright red and yellow shoulder patches (called epaulets) they flare during displays. Females are heavily streaked brown, often mistaken for sparrows, but equally important to photograph for their subtle beauty.

Native Habitat of the Red-winged Blackbird

They’re marsh birds through and through—found nesting in cattails, reeds, and wet meadows. At Point Pelee, the marsh boardwalk is one of the best spots to photograph them singing, displaying, and tending nests.

Migration Patterns in North America

Many Red-winged Blackbirds are short-distance migrants, wintering in the southern U.S. and Mexico. Some are year-round residents. At Point Pelee, they arrive in March or April and stay through the summer to breed.

Food/Eating Habits

They eat seeds, insects, and small aquatic invertebrates, often feeding in fields, shorelines, or marsh edges. Their feeding is less dramatic than their courtship, which is when they’re most photogenic—perched high, singing with wings spread and epaulets flared.

Known Lifespan

They usually live 2–4 years, though banded birds have been known to reach 15. They’re among the most abundant native birds in North America.

Join Us on Our Point Pelee Photo Workshop

Every May, we’re in the heart of the action at Point Pelee—Canada’s southernmost tip and a magnet for migrating warblers. With its narrow peninsula and concentrated habitats, it funnels birds like the Black-and-white Warbler right past your lens. On our photo workshop, you’ll learn how to anticipate their movement, track them through the undergrowth, and capture their unique behaviors in sharp, compelling frames.

Whether you’re building your warbler portfolio or just want to experience the electric energy of spring migration, Point Pelee delivers. And we’ll be right there beside you, guiding every shot.

Read Other Species Spotlight articles

If you’re as passionate about wildlife as we are, take a moment to explore our Species Spotlight series. Each article dives into the fascinating lives of the animals and birds we love to photograph on our workshops—whether it’s a puffin perched on a cliff in Newfoundland, a leopard draped across a tree in Tanzania, or an Adelie penguin waddling through the snow in Antarctica. It’s a growing library of stories, facts, and inspiration for anyone who dreams of capturing the wild through their lens. Come see the world the way we do—one species at a time.