A Red-winged Blackbird Staking His Claim

Monday, April 24, 2023,

This is a Red-winged Blackbird about to burst into song. Much like many Grackles that I have observed, they puff themselves up, and then let loose with either a song or a territorial call. Both the songs, and the calls, serve to attract mates, and to let other possible rivals that this area has been claimed. In this particular case, this gentleman may be advertising to females. This is pure conjecture on my part, and only because this guy is calling out from a Crab Apple Tree, which would not be a common nesting site for a Red-winged Blackbird. They tend to prefer to build their nests in the reeds alongside waterways or ponds. However, this particular tree is only a few dozen feet from a preferred nesting area. JK.

JK