Red-winged blackbird

Description:

Male blackbird has red shoulder and yellow wing patches, with the remainder of the bird being black. Females are dark brown. Common especially around wetlands; males defend a territory from a perch on a post, shrub, fence or cattail stalk. Males have a characteristic trilled call.

Habitat:

Found from Alaska to Mexico; northern populations migrate south in winter. Prefers open, grassy wetlands with cattail plants but may also be found in meadows, prairies, and old fields.

Notes:

This male bird was singing from a grassy spot near a small pond and stream near Fish Creek in southeast Estes Park.