BIRDS OF INDIANA. 893 



They feed upon seeds of swamp plants; sometimes do damage to 

 green corn before the ears glaze, but eat large numbers of insects. 

 An egg is laid daily, and but one brood reared a year. Incubation 

 lasts about 14 days. They arrive in May and depart in August or 

 September. 



113. GENUS AGELAIUS VIEILLOT. 



*190, (498). Agelaius phoeniceus (LINN.). 



Bed-winged Blackbird. 

 Synonym, SWAMP BLACKBIRD. 



Adult Male. Plumage, deep black; lesser wing coverts, bright red, 

 bordered behind with broad band of brownish-yellow, buffy or white. 

 In fall or winter, black, more or less edged with brown. Adult Fe- 

 male. Smaller; above, blackish, with brown and white streaks; light 

 stripe over eye, and inconspicuous light stripe along center of head; 

 lesser wing coverts, with more or less red; wings, barred and edged 

 with white or brownish; below, streaked with black and white; throat, 

 tinged with pink or yellow. Immature. Like female, but browner 

 above and more buffy below. 



Male. Length, 9.00-10.00; wing, 4.60-5.05; tail, 3.55-3.95. Fe- 

 male. Length, 7.50-8.50; wing, 3.80-4.25; tail, 3.10-3.40. 



RANGE. North America, from Costa Eica north to New Brunswick 

 and Mackenzie River Valley (Ft. Simpson). Breeds from coast of 

 Gulf States, north. Winters from Virginia and southern Indiana, 

 southward. 



Nest, and site, similar to that of last mentioned species. Eggs, 2-6; 

 pale bluish-green, spotted and irregularly streaked with black and 

 various shades of brown, drab and purple; .98 by .69. 



An abundant summer resident about swamps and the reedy borders 

 of lakes, and streams; elsewhere, rare, or only seen during the migra- 

 tions. Some winters, remain in the southern part of the State. The 

 winter of 1884-5 one was taken in January at Paris, 111., and a few 

 were seen, at odd times during February, at Odin, 111. (Cooke, Rept. 

 B. Mig. in Miss. Valley, p. 164). January 14, 1895, Mr. V. H. Bar- 

 nett found four at Spearsville, and the following winter it remained at 

 Bicknell as late as December 1. The winter of 1896-7 they also re- 

 mained there in some numbers (Chansler). 



To note the movements of the Red-winged Blackbird one should be 

 near its summer home. They proceed directly to such places, and, 

 though a few often precede the main body, they are often found there 



