iS 



THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



No. 7. 



RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



A. O. U. No. 498. Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. MARSH BLACKBIRD; SWAMP BLACKBIRD; REDWING; RED- 

 SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD. 



Description. Adult male: Glossy black; "shoulder patches" (lesser wing 

 coverts) of bright scarlet, partially concealed in repose by black scapulars and 

 bound by a broad buff border posteriorly ; bill and feet horn black. Female : 

 Brownish gray, mottled and streaked, sharply below, less distinctly above; feath- 



Photo by E. 



A TYPICAL NESTING SWAMP. 



ers of back edged by buff or bay, shoulders subdued red; throat, chin, cheeks, and 

 superciliary stripe faintly ruddy. Young, similar to female, but darker. Young 

 males exhibit every intermediate phase of plumage. Males in fall have their 

 uniform black interrupted by whitish, buffy, and tawny edgings of the feathers. 

 The epaulets at this season are a sickly orange-red. Males, length 900 (2286) ; 

 wing 4.84 (122.9); tail 3.82 (97.); bill .85 (21.6); depth of bill at base .50 

 (12.7). Female, length about 8.00 (203.2) ; wing 4.06 (103.1) ; tail 3.23 (82.) ; 

 bill .76 (19.3) ; depth at base .43 (10.9). 



