Tricolored Blackbird
NameTricolored Blackbird
Common NameTricolored Blackbird
Scientific NameAgelaius tricolor
FamilyIcteridae
Wingspan (cm)35
Length (cm)23
Weight (g)60
Plumage DetailsAdult males are entirely glossy black with a striking red shoulder patch bordered by a distinct white band. Females are duller, streaky brown overall with a paler throat and a less defined, often reddish-brown, shoulder patch.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are often described as raspy, gurgling, and buzzy, including calls like 'chuck-chuck-chuck-churrr' and a distinctive 'konk-la-ree' song, similar to a Red-winged Blackbird but more guttural.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, grassland, urban
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangePrimarily found in California, with smaller, isolated breeding populations in southern Oregon, western Nevada, and northern Baja California. They are largely restricted to the Central Valley and coastal areas of California.
Identifying FeaturesMale's glossy black plumage with red and white wing patch, Colonial nesting behavior, Preference for freshwater marshes and wet grasslands, Distinctive raspy, gurgling calls
Description
The Tricolored Blackbird is a medium-sized songbird, with males displaying glossy black plumage and a distinctive red and white patch on their wings. They are highly colonial, often nesting in large aggregations in wetlands and foraging in open fields.
