Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 155 

 *498. Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.). Red-winged Blackbird. 



Agelaeus phoeniceiis. Icterus phoeniceus. Sturnus predatorius. Swamp 

 Blackbird. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern United States and more southern British 

 Provinces, except Gulf coast and Florida; west to eastern base 

 of Rocky Mountains. Breeds throughout its range and winters 

 from southeastern Nebraska, central Illinois, Indiana, southern 

 New Jersey, southward. 



In Missouri a common summer resident in all open districts, 

 on wet meadows in the valleys of the Ozarks, on the open swamps 

 of the southeast, in the marshes of the floodplains as well as 

 throughout the prairie region north and west, but always near 

 water. The floodplain of the Mississippi is certainly the great 

 thoroughfare for countless millions of different kinds of black- 

 birds, by far the most numerous of which is the Redwing. The 

 thickly matted marsh grasses offer excellent shelter at night and 

 the corn shocks on adjacent farms keep them from starv- 

 ing when nothing better can be had. As far north as St. 

 Charles Co. Redwings are loath to leave in winter and small 

 troops either of this species or of the lately separated north- 

 ern subspecies may be seen in the coldest months. Unusual 

 rigor may drive them farther south for a few weeks, but 

 they are back again with the first warm spell. Soon after 

 the middle of February migration begins in earnest, the 

 vanguard spreading over southern and central, sometimes 

 even over northern, Missouri before the first of March. After 

 this first advance there is often a lull until the middle of March 

 when the great host reaches the state in immense flocks of north- 

 bound transients. At the same time the first old males take up 

 their favorite perches and announce that they intend to occupy 

 them again the coming season. With the wonted vicissitudes of 

 the season migration drags through April and nearly to the middle 

 of May, troops of females forming the rear guard after the main 

 army has departed and probably reached the northern home. 

 In the meantime the ranks of our summer residents have filled 

 up, the females have at last joined their long-suffering mates, 

 courting is going on with much show and ado until toward the 

 end of May domestic considerations bid them be reserved and 

 cautious. When the young are grown they join the parents in 

 roving over the country in search of favorite dishes and secm'e 

 roosting places, flying daily many miles to the willow thickets in 

 the river bottoms or the Spartina stretches in the marshes. 



