- Male red-winged blackbird
There are many types of blackbirds—small birds whose name comes from the black color of the males' feathers. The best-known type is the red-winged blackbird. Other kinds of blackbirds include the Old World blackbird, the yellow-headed blackbird, and the grackles. Although crows and ravens also have black feathers, they do not belong to the blackbird family. Where blackbirds liveBlackbirds make their nests in marshes, on dry prairies, or in dense evergreen forests. The Old World blackbird lives in woods and gardens throughout the warmer areas of Europe and Asia as well as in New Zealand and Australia. Most blackbirds, however, are found in North America. Red-winged blackbirds live in cattail marshes from Canada to the West Indies and Central America. The yellow-headed blackbird of the Western plains also nests in marshes. Grackles are found along the southern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Physical featuresBlackbirds generally range from 8 to 16 inches (20 to 41 centimeters) in length. Red-winged blackbirds are about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. Old World blackbirds are about 10 inches (25 centimeters) long. At about 16 inches (41 centimeters) and with a long tail, the male great-tailed grackle is the largest of the blackbirds. Though the males are mostly black, blackbirds boast a variety of colored details. The male red-winged blackbird has yellow and red feathers on its shoulders. The female is brown and resembles a large sparrow. Male Old World blackbirds are all black, and the females are brown. Both have an orange bill and orange coloring around the eyes. The male yellow-headed blackbird has a bright yellow head and a black body; the female has a dull yellow head and gray-brown body. The male great-tailed grackle has black feathers with a purple or blue-green shine. BehaviorMany blackbirds make loud squeaks and gurgling clucks while fluttering their wings, bobbing their bodies, and wagging their tails. Red-winged blackbirds chirp musical songs. Most blackbirds eat insects. Blackbirds are a benefit to humans because they eat harmful insects such as crop-eating pests. Blackbirds have a variety of nesting habits. Some build nests on the ground, others attach theirs to marsh plants, and some build them high above the ground in trees. Some blackbirds, including the tricolored blackbird and the common grackle, build their nests in colonies. Both the male and the female usually help feed the young. |