RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 
By T. GILBERT PEARSON 
The National Association of Audubon Societies 
Educational Leaflet No. 25 
What boy is there who has not seen a Blackbird? If such 
there be it must be because he has never been in the country in the 
summer. Of all the dozen kinds of Blackbirds in North America, 
there is none more handsome, nor more widely distributed, than 
the so-called “Red-wing.” In spring or early summer the plumage 
of the male is a beautiful, glossy black, except that on the shoul- 
ders, there are found two parallel streaks, one yellowish buff and 
the other a brilliant scarlet. “Officer Bird,” it is called sometimes, 
because of its shoulder straps. 
It is difficult to state the exact size of a Red-wing, for some 
are larger than others, being like people in this regard. Ordinarily 
the males measure from about S J y 4 inches to inches in length. 
When the wings are spread to the fullest extent they measure from 
tip to tip from about 13^4 to 1 inches. The length of an Eng- 
lish Sparrow is 6]4> inches and a full grown Robin is 10 inches 
long, so one may safely say the Red-winged Blackbird in size is 
about two-thirds the way between an English Sparrow and a 
Robin. 
The Red-wing’s mate is shorter by at least an inch, and her 
black and brown dress is much broken by lines and rosettes of 
white and buff. Altogether she is less handsome and far less strik- 
ing in appearance, which is quite an advantage when the time of 
year comes for her to sit hidden on her nest. 
In the North we first see the Red-wings late in March or early 
in April. They appear along with the first Song Sparrows and 
Robins. The males come in flocks by themselves 
and may be seen about the ponds or marshes ^ rr f ve 
where last year their little ones were raised. Here 
on the dead marsh grass or cat-tails they will sit, and call and sing, 
although there is as yet no lady Blackbird in all the land to hear 
their voices. For a week or two weeks, perhaps, we may find 
them haunting the marshes which are just beginning to show the 
slightest green under the influences of the warming spring days. 
Then some morning the females appear and there are great times 
around the marshes. Much chattering and singing and chasing and 
