46 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
BLACKBIRDS AND THEIR 
COUSINS 
What song is more welcome than Red¬ 
winged Blackbirds’ “Okel-e-a?” 
Redwing begins to sing in January. 
Now, January is not noted for its music 
in the air, so when, clear and sweet as 
Meadow Lark’s song, Redwings “O-kel- 
e-a” rings out upon the cold air, our glad 
imagination ushers in the spring. 
The glossy blackbird with the bright 
red shoulder straps flashes past in full 
song, and he seems a fairy general fluting 
to the sleeping buds. And we wonder if 
the Pussy Willows will hear him and 
awaken. 
His notes remind us of Meadow Lark’s. 
This is not strange for the birds are close¬ 
ly related. 
Redwing's colors are black and red but 
his wife dresses much plainer. She wears 
a brown dress streaked with buff. 
The tule covered sloughs are Red¬ 
wing's loved haunts. From the tales, he 
suspends his home. It looks like a deep 
open basket. If we approach too near the 
birds get very much excited. They don’t 
understand that we can’t walk upon the 
water and that to be able to disturb that 
home we would need rubber boots or a 
boat. 
