Cross-over - Blackbirds
by Nikolyn McDonald
Title
Cross-over - Blackbirds
Artist
Nikolyn McDonald
Medium
Photograph
Description
The tree branches in this photo, taken in early March, are actually still leafless. What you may take at first glance to be very dark leaves are actually birds, perched on the branches and flying from one tree to another. Look closely and you will see an occasional flash of red. That is the red shoulder patch or epaulet on the male, visible when it is flying or displaying. The male flocks migrate separately from and earlier than the female flocks.
Though we do see the occasional red winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) around pretty much all summer here in the Midwest, the bird is migratory in this climate and passes through in large numbers in the spring and again in the fall. Red-winged blackbirds generally live in open, grassy areas and prefer wetlands. That makes Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Missouri, where I took this photo, perfect for them. The birds are omnivorous. They mostly eat grains and seeds but also eat fruits, insects, and even small animals like snails or frogs.
Uploaded
March 9th, 2020
Statistics
Viewed 525 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/18/2024 at 11:21 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet