Redwing blackbird
Just as I’ve seen redwing blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) do in Austin, one had landed on a cattail stalk at the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Lake County, Illinois, on June 7th. This male seemed to be showing annoyance at our presence, or perhaps alarm, given how close the boardwalk passed to a nest with eggs in it.
© 2016 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
That’s certainly not a serenade.
Gallivanta
July 21, 2016 at 4:54 AM
I like the way you put that.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 4:57 AM
Classic redwing pose. Nicely captured, Steve. Often in the early spring they can be caught with steam accompanying their song.
Steve Gingold
July 21, 2016 at 6:07 AM
Now that would be a picture. I didn’t find any redwing blackbirds on your blog, but perhaps you have a steamy picture in your archives.
This is another of the relatively few species that Texas and Massachusetts share.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 6:12 AM
No, I don’t have any Redwing images. I’ve seen a few over the years, mainly on NatureScapes.Net but haven’t captured one myself.
Steve Gingold
July 21, 2016 at 2:06 PM
I had to go to Illinois for my picture, but let’s hope one comes your way close to home.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Maybe you, too, will come to Illinois to capture a redwing 🙂
melissabluefineart
August 8, 2016 at 10:22 AM
They are good at scolding passers-by.
Jim Ruebush
July 21, 2016 at 7:04 AM
So I’ve found out. Maybe I should’ve scolded this one back.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 7:27 AM
What a fantastic portrait of that bird!
Pit
July 21, 2016 at 11:24 AM
Thanks. That gaping mouth added a lot to the bird’s expression.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 11:36 AM
I think you are being given your marching orders! Great shot of a handsome fellow
Julie@frogpondfarm
July 21, 2016 at 2:34 PM
I think you’ve got the message right. We didn’t march, but we did gradually walk on.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 2:45 PM
I’m sure I’ve said before how much I enjoy these birds. They were part of my Iowa years, clinging to cornstalks or prairie grasses and singing duets with the meadowlarks. Now, when they come through the coast, they’ll cling to sailboat rigging in the same way, and sing the same song.
Huge flocks of them were at Brazoria during the spring migration. It’s a funny experience, because they stay hidden in the reeds and grasses. You know there are hundreds of birds there, but can’t see a single one, until part of the flock suddenly explodes into the sky.
shoreacres
July 21, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Redwing blackbirds seem to be everywhere. Steve Gingold has seen them, you grew up with them and encounter them again now along the Texas coast, and I see them often enough in Austin—even if I had to go to Illinois to get a decent picture of one. The group at Volo Bog weren’t hiding in the way you describe, so I’ve yet to see an explosion. It must be quite a sight.
Steve Schwartzman
July 21, 2016 at 11:00 PM
[…] how different the female redwing blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is from the male. Like the previous photograph, this one comes from the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Lake County, […]
Female redwing blackbird | Portraits of Wildflowers
July 22, 2016 at 5:08 AM
What a beautifull bird !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ellada36100
July 25, 2016 at 5:21 AM
Redwing blackbirds are common in many parts of the United States, including right here in Austin.
Steve Schwartzman
July 25, 2016 at 5:24 AM
It’s funny~as common as these birds are, I seldom see a nice picture of one. Nice going, Steve.
melissabluefineart
August 8, 2016 at 10:25 AM
Although redwing blackbirds are common in Austin too, I’ve never gotten a good picture of one. I’m not sure I ever even tried here, but the opportunity at Volo was too good to pass up.
Steve Schwartzman
August 8, 2016 at 11:56 AM
Yes, he was really berating us, wasn’t he?
melissabluefineart
August 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Yes, and that berating stance made the picture good.
Steve Schwartzman
August 8, 2016 at 1:10 PM