Brown-Headed Cowbird or Red-Winged Blackbird ?

Call

Audio by Dkazdan

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

There's more to learn about Brown-Headed Cowbird

Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

How to recognise a red-winged blackbird?

General appearance

The Red-winged Blackbird's general size ranges between 7 to 9 1/2 inches (18-24 cm). Its wings are broad and rounded with a rounded, square-tipped tail. With coloration varying from black, brown, orange, red to yellow, these birds are about the size of a Robin.

Male vs female

Male Red-winged blackbirds are noticeable with shoulder patches that may be either evident, particularly in song display, or mostly concealed by body feathers. These patches are typically bordered yellow, but in central California, these can be entirely red. Females, on the other hand, present very differently. They display streaky brown coloration with a buff eyebrow.

Juvenile

Younger red-winged blackbirds, like the females, appear streaky brown. They resemble sparrows but possess different behavior aids, darker lower belly, and a spikier bill distinguishing them from the common sparrows. With age and seasonal variations, their coloration and physical traits progress and develop into that of respective adult males and females.

Size

6.3 - 9.8 in/1.1 - 2.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Red-winged blackbirds primarily inhabit marshes, particularly freshwater marshes, brushy swamps, rank weedy fields, and hayfields.

Additional range

In addition to primary habitats, they also venture into cultivated land and the outskirts of water bodies. They can sometimes be found in unexpected environments like farm fields, pastures, feedlots, and mudflats, especially outside of the breeding season.

Range Map

What do red-winged blackbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-winged blackbird primarily feeds on insects and seeds. In the summer, its diet consists mainly of various insects such as beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, as well as spiders, millipedes, and snails. Approximately three-fourths of the adult's annual diet is composed of seeds, which includes those from grasses, weeds, and waste grain. The bird also occasionally consumes berries and small fruits.

Bird feeders

Red-winged blackbirds commonly visit bird feeders where they are attracted to seeds and grains. They often feed on sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and millet. These birds readily adapt to available feed in backyard settings, making them frequent guests at feeders.

What does a red-winged blackbird sound like?

The red-winged blackbird exhibits an eclectic range of vocalizations. Its signature song is a rich, musical "o-ka-leeee" often used to declare its territory. Its calls vary, featuring a rising pattern and including different types like chatter, chirp or chip, scream, trill, and whistle. These diverse sounds contribute to its unique sound repertoire, abandoning subtlety for striking, tuneful melodies.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

There's more to learn about Red-Winged Blackbird

Brown-Headed Cowbird

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Red-Winged Blackbird

Brown-Headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

General appearance

The brown-headed cowbird is a medium-sized bird, approximately the size of a robin or sparrow, measuring between 6-8 inches or 15-20 cm. Its wing shape is broad and the tail is either rounded or square-tipped. The bird's coloration includes hues of black, brown, green, and tan.

Male vs female

In terms of gender differences, male brown-headed cowbirds are glossy black and sport a contrasting brown head. On the other hand, females have a different appearance, with a plain dusty brown color and a darker sparrowlike bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile brown-headed cowbirds have a unique appearance that changes as they mature. Initially, they are streaked and tend to resemble female adults but their coloration grows darker as they age. Further observation is needed to note if this pattern is consistent across all seasons.

Size

6.3 - 7.9 in/1.1 - 1.8 oz

There's more to learn about Brown-Headed Cowbird

Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

General appearance

The Red-winged Blackbird's general size ranges between 7 to 9 1/2 inches (18-24 cm). Its wings are broad and rounded with a rounded, square-tipped tail. With coloration varying from black, brown, orange, red to yellow, these birds are about the size of a Robin.

Male vs female

Male Red-winged blackbirds are noticeable with shoulder patches that may be either evident, particularly in song display, or mostly concealed by body feathers. These patches are typically bordered yellow, but in central California, these can be entirely red. Females, on the other hand, present very differently. They display streaky brown coloration with a buff eyebrow.

Juvenile

Younger red-winged blackbirds, like the females, appear streaky brown. They resemble sparrows but possess different behavior aids, darker lower belly, and a spikier bill distinguishing them from the common sparrows. With age and seasonal variations, their coloration and physical traits progress and develop into that of respective adult males and females.

Size

6.3 - 9.8 in/1.1 - 2.6 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Winged Blackbird

How to tell the Brown-Headed Cowbird from the Red-Winged Blackbird

Visual differences

Brown-Headed Cowbirds (6-8 inches) have glossy black males with brown heads and plain brown females, exhibiting a broad wing shape with a rounded or square-tipped tail. In contrast, male Red-Winged Blackbirds (7-9.5 inches) feature distinctive red and yellow shoulder patches, standing out against their black body, while females are streaky brown with a buff eyebrow. Juvenile Red-Winged Blackbirds resemble sparrows but with a spikier bill. Both species are robin-sized but differ in coloration and specific plumage patterns, with Red-Winged Blackbirds displaying more vivid theme-specific traits.

Key differences and behavior

The Brown-Headed Cowbird and the Red-Winged Blackbird differ significantly in behavior and habitat. Cowbirds thrive in open areas like farms, engaging in brood parasitism by laying eggs in other bird nests, leaving hosts to rear their young. They follow livestock for flushed insects and predominantly eat seeds in winter. Conversely, Red-Winged Blackbirds are highly territorial during breeding, defending marsh-based habitats aggressively against threats, including humans. They build nests in cattails or dense grass, with males displaying vibrant red shoulder patches to attract multiple mates. Their diet comprises mostly insects in summer and seeds throughout the year. While both birds visit feeders, the Red-Winged Blackbird is more adaptable, often seen in more varied habitats outside the breeding season.

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