The Red-winged Blackbird 4g 



quicker than either of their relatives, the Purple Grakle or 

 the Boat -tail of the southern States. The millions of insects 

 which the Red-wings destroy at this early season are, in my 

 opinion, a full equivalent for the corn they eat at another 

 period, and for this reason the farmers do not destroy them in 

 the spring when they resort to the fields in immense numbers. 

 They then follow the ploughman in company with the Crow 

 Blackbird, and as if aware of the benefit which they are con- 

 ferring do not seem to regard him with apprehension. 



When the nesting period begins the birds seek along the 

 margin of some sequestered pond or damp meadow for a 

 place in which to form the nest. An alder bush or a thick tuft 

 of rank weeds answers equally well. In such a place a quantity 

 of coarse dried weeds is deposited by them to form the 

 exterior of the fabric which is to receive their eggs. The nest 

 is lined with fine grasses, and in some instances with horse- 

 hair. The eggs are from four to six in number of a regular 

 oval form, light blue, sparsely spotted with dusky brown. 



Geographical Distribution 



The Red-winged Blackbird breeds from the Gulf of Mexico to 

 southern Canada. It winters from the middle States southward. 



