Red-winged Blackbird

One of the most abundant birds across North America, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight on top of cattails, and on telephone wires.

Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow.

Red-winged Blackbirds fiercely defend their territories during the breeding season. He chases other males out of the territory and attacks nest predators and sometimes goes after people.