What kind of bird is a tricolored blackbird?
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What kind of bird is a tricolored blackbird?
Tricolored Blackbird – eBird Very similar to Red-winged Blackbird. Male entirely glossy black with red shoulder patch bordered by white, not yellow. Female dark brown and streaky, larger and darker than any sparrow. Lacks warm tones to plumage, unlike female Red-winged Blackbird.
Why is the population of the tricolored blackbird decreasing?
The population of this species is decreasing rapidly, falling from millions of birds in the 1930s to 400,000 birds in 2008, to fewer than 145,000 birds today, a perilous drop of 66 percent in six years. Many of the habitats once used by Tricolored Blackbirds for nesting and feeding have been lost to urban and agricultural development.
What causes the reproductive failure of the colonial tricolored blackbird?
Cattle egret predation causing reproductive failures of nesting tricolored blackbirds. Calif. Fish and Game 98: 47-50. Meese 2012.pdf Meese, RJ. 2013. Chronic low reproductive success of the colonial tricolored blackbird.
Where do Tricolored blackbirds nest?
Historically Tricolored Blackbirds bred in wetlands almost exclusively. Because of extensive losses to wetlands along the U.S. West Coast, many now nest in agricultural fields, though some still breed in remnant marshes. They forage in and around dairy farms, fields, and wetlands.
How can you tell a male from a female tricolored blackbird?
Here are a few quick tips: Male Tricolored Blackbirds have distinct bright red shoulder coloring, and the white is quite pronounced. The colors on the shoulder of a Male Red-wing Blackbird are a little less intense.
What is the difference between a tricolored and a red winged blackbird?
At the top is a Tricolored Blackbird, while the one beneath is a Red-Winged Blackbird. Females are way trickier, because they don’t have the shoulder colors (many folks won’t even try to distinguish the two).
Where can I find Tricolored blackbirds in California?
Agricultural areas in California’s Central Valley are among the best places to go looking for Tricolored Blackbirds. You might need to visit a few areas before you find them, but when you do find a flock, there won’t be a shortage of birds.
