556 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



Red-winged Blackbird (male). 



Female. 



The Red-winged Blackbird 

 is an abundant summer resi- 

 dent in Illinois and Wisconsin, 

 frequenting swampy places 

 and breeding throughout both 

 states. It arrives from the 

 south in March and leaves in 

 October. The note is a loud 

 chuck, while its song is a medley 

 of metallic vocal sounds beyond 

 description. 



The nest is of dry grass, built in reeds or on branches of bushes 

 and low trees bordering marshes or ponds. The eggs are from 3 to 

 5 in number, pale blue or grayish marked and scrawled with black, 

 dark brown, and purplish gray. They measure about .98 x .70 

 inches. 



The Field Museum collection contains a number of sets of eggs of 

 this species taken near Joliet, Illinois, between May 21 and June 14. 



226a. Agelaius phoeniceus arctolegus Oberholser. 

 Arctic Red-wixged Blackbird. 



Distr.: " Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and northern Alichi- 

 gan; north to Kewatin, Athabaska, and Mackenzie; in migration south 

 to Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and probably Ohio." (Oberholser, 

 Auk, 1907, p. 332.) 



