Guess how the red-winged blackbird got its name! The male is black. It has red shoulder patches edged with yellow. It is about nine inches long. The female is smaller. She is brown and striped. She looks like a big sparrow.

This blackbird is found in most of North and Central America. A blackbird in the north will fly south for the winter. A blackbird in the United States may stay all year. This may be the most abundant native bird in the United States. It roosts in small flocks while breeding. It roosts in huge flocks during the winter.

In spring, the hen builds a nest over water. She weaves stringy plants around cattails or marsh grass. Then she makes a cup with leaves, grass, and mud. Each blackbird has many mates. The hen lays about four blue-green, spotted eggs. The eggs hatch in 13 days. A pair may have two or three broods a year. The hen will build a new nest for each brood.

The blackbird has many enemies. Building the nest over water helps protect it. So does nesting in groups. The male is a fierce protector. He will attack bigger animals and birds. Still, most blackbirds die young. The average lifespan is a little over two years. One wild blackbird lived to almost 16 years old.

This blackbird is not threatened. It may be in the future, though. People are draining the wetlands. They are building towns where the blackbird likes to live.