If you’ve ever walked past a marsh in early spring and felt personally targeted by a small black bird screaming at you from a cattail—congratulations, you’ve met the Red-winged Blackbird. He’s loud, he’s bold, and he will absolutely defend his territory like it’s the last parking spot at a Costco on Sunday.
Why the Red-winged Blackbird Gets a Bad Rap
Yes, they dive-bomb joggers. Yes, they chase crows twice their size. No, they don’t care who you are. But it’s not aggression for the sake of chaos. It’s protective instinct, dialed up to 11. These males have multiple nests in their territory—often with several females—and they’re essentially trying to be both dad and bouncer at the same time.
Where You’ll Find Them
Everywhere. Seriously. Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most widespread birds in North America. You’ll find them in all 48 contiguous U.S. states, every Canadian province, Mexico, parts of Central America, and even Cuba. They’re probably already there if you’ve got a marsh, wet meadow, roadside ditch, or soggy pasture.
What to Plant to Attract Them
Want to roll out the red carpet? Focus on native wetland plants:
- Cattails
- Rushes
- Sedges
If you’re working with drier land or a backyard, try:
- Sunflowers
- Switchgrass
- Big Bluestem
They love tall plants where they can perch and shout at trespassers.
What They Eat
- Summer Diet: Mostly insects—beetles, caterpillars, dragonflies, and spiders. They’re great for natural pest control.
- Winter Diet: Seeds from grasses and weeds like ragweed, sunflower, and smartweed. They’ll also raid feeders for cracked corn and millet.
Migratory? Sort of.
Most populations in the northern U.S. and Canada migrate south for winter—some to the southern U.S., others into Mexico and Central America. But in milder parts of their range, you might see them year-round.
Backyard Birding? You Bet.
They’re common visitors to backyard feeders, especially in winter. Just… be ready for the noise. And if you have a cat, keep it indoors. These birds are not above starting a fight.