Red-winged Blackbird (1 Viewer)

[Marysan]

I'm curious to know if Red-winged Blackbirds are common in the UK as they are here. It's really hard to get a photo of one in flight showing the red shoulders. I did get a couple pics of them at Lindo Lake in Lakeside, CA, 01-27-03. The first pic will show the Blackbird perched. The second one will show the the red shoulder markings displayed while making it's calls

Here is Photo #1: Red-winged Blackbird perched and quiet.

 

[Marysan]

Photo #2: Red-winged Blackbird perched and voicing calls.

 

[IanF]

Hi Marysan,

I guess the short answer is we don't have any at all over here. Pity as they look quite pretty.
I did find mention of a sighting in 1863 and 1869 when two were shot in Sussex, but there may have been the odd one or two since then.

 

[birdman]

Hi Marysan,

I'm pleased to speak once again to one of the first kind voices to welcome me to the Forum.

I first saw Red-winged Blackbirds on a Natural History prog mumble mumble years ago.

Always wished I could see one here in the UK - but as IanF says, they don't seem to fancy it much over here!

Do you have Yellow-winged (or something similar perhaps) as well, or is my age catching up with me?

 

[Sal]

We do not get them here, in fact we dont get blackbirds at all here, so it was good to see your pics - I especially liked the one showing the red flashes when it calls - really showy!

 

[Marysan]

Well, now I'm glad I asked. This is the only pic I've been able to get of the Red-winged Blackbird in flight, and I've tried many times. This photo was taken 0n 03-20-02 with my Nikon CP 775.

 

[Marysan]

Thank you, birdman. There is the Yellow-headed Blackbird and it does occur here but I've never seen one. The Red-winged and the Tri-colored Blackbirds are common in Southern California.

 

[Gaye Horn]

MarySan those are wonderful shots of the red winged.. do you have the tri-coloured ones?
We are a major nesting site for red wings and Yellow headed BB and Boblinks... every March. Great to see your pics. Don't you love that rusy gate hinge quality to their calls.

 

[Marysan]

Thanks, Gaye. Yes, the Tricolored are common here also. Open-winged, the Tricolored don't seem as striking to me as the Red-winged are.

That was interesting information from you, TonyK, thanks. And thanks for the compliment.

 

[Yve_M]

Great photo of a red-winged showing his epaulettes. I didn't know there was a tricoloured!. Had to get out the old 'western' bird book, says they are mostly in California. We get loads of the red-winged in Saskatchewan, they are one of our most abundant birds during the summer. Thanks for the great information.

 

[Geoff Pain]

All we get is plain Blackbirds,how come you get all the fancy ones on your side of the great pond?:-C

Geoff :t:

 

[Cindy M]

beautiful photo Marysan- red-wingeds are always the harbinger of spring here and I love to watch their mating displays.

 

[KC Foggin]

Well your blackbird shots are a darn sight better than any I have taken that's for sure Marysan. I usually see these guys when the robins and waxwings invade for about a week or so around this time of year but have not seen any yet.

 

[Cindy M]

hey Kc- are you as unamused as I am at comments about these wonderful birds by someone (ahem) who professed to blast them out of the air with a shotgun not all that long ago? Guess I should consider the source and stop biting my tounge.

 

[KC Foggin]

Good grief Cin! A shotgun?? How in heaven's name could anyone resort to that kind of action? How could anyone behave so barbarically and still profess a love of birds?

 

[Paul 42]

OK IanF own up! "1863..1869..shot in Sussex" - how come you know so much about it? You (very) old murderer you! Mind you TonyK seems a bit quick off the mark with the cries of innocence, and he's a lot nearer.. Seriously though, I hope we're not witnessing the start of a "flame war" carried over from another forum. Let's do like in the Wild West and leave all our shooting irons at the town limits, shall we?