Conspicuously Black 



which are so frequently called precisely what they are not. In 

 spite of the compliment implied in associating the name of one 

 of our finest songsters with it, the rusty blackbird has a clucking 

 call as unmusical as it is infrequent, and only very rarely in the 

 spring does it pipe a note that even suggests the sweetness of 

 the redwing's. 



Red-winged Blackbird 



( Agelaius pianiceus) Blackbird family 



Called also: SWAMP BLACKBIRD ; RED-WINGED ORIOLE ; 

 RED-WINGED STARLING 



Length — Exceptionally variable — 7.50 to 9.80 inches. Usually 

 about an inch smaller than the robin. 



Male — Coal-black. Shoulders scarlet, edged with yellow. 



Female — Feathers finely and inconspicuously speckled with 

 brown, rusty black, whitish, and orange. Upper wing- 

 coverts rusty black, tipped with white, or rufous and some- 

 times spotted with black and red. 



Rar^e — ^North America. Breeds from Texas to Columbia River, 

 and throughout the United States. Commonly found from 

 Mexico to 57th degree north latitude. 



Migrations — March. October. Common summer resident. 



In oozy pastures where a brook lazily finds its way through 

 the farm is the ideal pleasure ground of this "bird of society." 

 His notes, " h'-wa-ker-ee" or " con-quer-ee" (on an ascending 

 scale), are liquid in quality, suggesting the sweet, moist, cool 

 retreats where he nests. Liking either heat or cold (he is fond 

 of wintering in Florida, but often retreats to the north while the 

 marshes are still frozen) ; enjoying not only the company of large 

 flocks of his own kind with whom he travels, but any bird 

 associates with whom he can scrape acquaintance ; or to sit 

 quietly on a tree-top in the secluded, inaccessible bog while his 

 mate is nesting ; satisfied with cut-worms, grubs, and insects, or 

 with fruit and grain for his food — the blackbird is an impressive 

 and helpful example of how to get the best out of life. 



Yet, of all the birds, some farmers complain that the black- 

 bird is the greatest nuisance. They dislike the noisy chatterings 

 when a flock is simply indulging its social instincts. They 



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