Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
*Scan provided by artist, Mandy Bass.
Specimen collection provided by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Status: Decreasing
Range: Found year-round across much of the United States, including Alaska, California, Florida, the Great Lakes, and the Mid-Atlantic, as well as throughout Canada and into parts of Mexico.
Habitat: Breeds and winters in freshwater and saltwater marshes, cattail stands, meadows, hayfields, pastures, and agricultural fields. Often found near ponds, ditches, and wetlands, but also adapts to urban, suburban, and forest-edge environments.
Human Impact: Clearing of forests for agriculture initially increased suitable habitat, leading to population growth. However, recent changes in farming practices—especially the decline of hayfield acreage—have contributed to significant population declines. Populations have dropped by 60% over 30 years, primarily due to the loss of hayfields. Regional changes influence nesting success in grassland abundance, as birds often breed in areas different from where they were born.
Significant Events: Mass Mortality Event (2010): On December 31, 2010, between 4,000–5,000 red-winged blackbirds died suddenly in Beebe, Arkansas. The cause was believed to be disorientation and trauma due to fireworks set off that night, highlighting how human noise pollution can disturb large flocks of roosting birds.