290 



BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES. ETC. 



Fig. 300. 



498. Agelaius phceniceus (Linn.). RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.! 



Adult male in breeding plumage. Black except for red and buffy 

 brown or whitish shoulder patches. Adult male in winter : like summer 



male, but buff of wing coverts 

 deeper and scapulars and inter- 

 scapulars edged with rusty. 

 Adult female in breeding plum- 

 age : plumage of harsh texture 

 compared with the silky plum- 

 age of the male ; streaked, top 

 of head dark brown, with buffy 

 median crown stripe and su- 

 perciliary ; nape and fore part 

 of back dark brown, lightly 

 marked with buffy ; shoulders 

 faintly tinged with red ; under 

 parts whitish, heavily streaked 

 with dark brown ; throat vari- 

 ably tinged with creamy, buff, 

 or pinkish. Adult female in 

 winter : lighter markings of upper parts more conspicuous, under parts 

 tinged with buffy. Immature male : epaulettes flecked with black and 

 varying from orange to red ; black of plumage obscured by heavy rusty 

 and buffy edgings above, and light ashy or brownish tips below. Young : 

 like adult female, but throat, superciliary, and malar stripes yellowish ; 

 ground color of under parts pale buffy or yellowish with narrow dusk} 7 

 streaks. Male: length (skins) 8.10-9.30, wing 4.58-4.95, tail 3.49-3.78, 

 bill .88-1.00. Female : length (skins) 0.80-7.45, wing 3.75-4.00, tail 2.76- 

 3.05. bill .68-.80. 



Distribution. Eastern North America to Rocky Mountains. 

 Nest. Attached to upright stems of sedges or reeds, or to branches of 

 bushes or small trees in marshes or swamps ; made compactly of dried 

 grasses. Eggs : 3 to 5, pale bluish, varying to olive, marked with black, 

 brown, or purplish gray, usually with pen lines and blotches. 

 Food. Injurious insects, grain, and weed seed. 



In the semi-arid parts of the west where a bit of marsh is the one 

 green acre when the hills and valleys have turned brown in sum- 

 mer, the marsh birds have a peculiar charm. The red-wing, with 

 his black coat and the gleam of keen red from his epaulettes, is a 

 strong note in the landscape, but best of all is his flute-like o-ka-lee, 

 with its cool suggestions of marsh grass and cat-tails. 



498a. A. p. sonoriensis Eidgw. SONORAN RED-WING. 



Like A. phceniceus, but smaller; female much lighter, buffy tints prevail- 

 ing on upper parts ; throat pinkish, streaking of under parts much duller 

 and less striking; bill thicker. Male: length (skins) 8.15-9.35, wing 

 4.SO-5.0'). tail 3.38-3.98, bill .89-1.00. Female: length (skins) 6.80-7.86, 

 wing 3.88-4.15, bill .70-.S4. 



richmondi Nelson. VERA CRUZ RED-WING. (The Auk, xiv. 58.) 

 /.s 1 but smaller, adult male vvitli wing coverts deeper colored, at least in 

 winter ; adult female lighter colored. 



Distribution. Coast district of lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and south to Costa 

 Rica. (Ridgway's Birds of North uml Mi<l<Ui- America, ii. 3135.) 



