Field Guide to Westford

Red-winged Blackbird 

 

Agelaius phoeniceus

Physical description: 

About 9 inches in length. Glossy black body. Males have a bright red mark above their wing. Females look like a large sparrow in that their coloring is a streaked brown and white. They have a wide pointed beak. Relatively short tail in comparison to their long bodies. Males will puff out their feathers before making a call. 

Habitat: 

Marshes or agricultural fields

Voice:

raspy “ch’ch’ch’cheeee” 

For more information we suggest visiting:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id