Nurturing Natives- Red-winged Blackbird

Do you hear that “conk-la-ree!” echoing from fields of dry grass and cattails? It means the red-winged blackbirds are back in town! While they can still sometimes be seen during the winter, most of these beautiful birds migrate south, and only come back north once the weather warms! Males are decorated with bright red patches, hence their namesake, and they use them in order to attract females. The brighter the color, the more fit the bird seems! When mating, males will claim a territory for their large family and raise up to 15 families at a time with many individual females! When visiting marshy areas, keep an eye out for these beautiful black birds!