Plate V. 
AG EL/E US PH (El\l ICE US— Red-winged Blackbird. 
The lied- winged Blackbird arrives in Ohio about the first of March; nest-building begins the last 
of April or the first of May ; two broods are often raised during the season. In the fall they fly about 
over the marshes in large flocks, prolonging their stay in favorable seasons far into December, and a few 
may even remain during the winter. 
LOCALITY : 
The early nests are built among the dried stems of the various reeds and water-plants so abundant 
along canal basins, ponds, and natural streams ; the later ones, in the branches of alders, willows, and 
other bushes and trees about swamps or in damp woods, and in clusters of weeds and briers in springy 
meadows. 
POSITION : 
When a tree or bush is the chosen site, the nest is generally situated in a perpendicular fork, or is 
suspended between two or more small perpendicular branches, and is seldom more than ten feet above 
the ground. When built in reeds, the structure is woven between a number of blades, as figured in 
the plate, and often within a few inches of the surrounding water. 
When built upon the ground, a little mound or tussock covered with the dried vegetation of the 
previous year is selected ; no attempt is made at concealment. By far the greater number of nests are 
in the last two positions. 
MATERIALS : i 
The materials of construction are dried grasses, strips of fibres from flags and weeds, round grass, 
and sometimes pieces of mud and a few horse hairs. The long grasses make up the bulk of the struc- 
ture, and in nests suspended in reeds, bushes, or trees, they are woven firmly and elegantly about the 
points of support, and entwined among themselves ; but in those situated in stout forks or upon the 
ground, such skill and precaution in weaving are unnecessary or impracticable. 
The grasses forming the superstructure are well soaked in water, generally muddy, before they are 
placed in position ; when dry they make a solid and compact shell, which can be dissected from the 
nest without injury ; in shape it is like the pointed half of an egg-shell, and is from a quarter to five- 
eighths of an inch thick at the bottom, gradually becoming thinner as the rim is approached. The lin- 
ing is composed of round grass, and sometimes a few horse hairs. 
Position has great influence on the shape ; nests upon the ground are shallow, while those in other 
positions may be six or even eight inches deep. The average of ten specimens taken from trees and 
rushes is : outside diameter, five inches ; inside diameter, three inches ; outside depth, four and one-half 
inches ; inside depth, two and one-half inches. 
49 
