Nature's Angry Bird?

[havalotta]

I was just going to tell her that. They actually raise that red bar to show off!

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by linrose

I only see them when they come through with other blackbirds while migrating in late winter. I've never seen that much color on the wings though, wow!

When they first come through, they are not quite in the mood for breeding and are still part of the flock...once the males start to establish their territories, they start flashing their epaulets--and that is when you can see just how much color there is!

It is not a great shot, but I finally got a photo of them showing off their colors.



While looking for it...I cropped this one as well--too bad I have yet to get a good clear photo of birds in flight with a good composition as well...maybe some day.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by Gloria

The color shows less until it does that puffed up thing to impress the female or warn away others.

and

Originally Posted by havalotta

I was just going to tell her that. They actually raise that red bar to show off!

Yes, I guess I should have read further down the thread before responding as well.

Originally Posted by Gloria

I like hearing the shrill trill they make in spring.

I love their gurgling call and trilling, too. It is one of the few (only?) bird calls I feel I recognize without seeing the actual bird to verify what I'm hearing.

Yesterday, I went out and they were all calling to each other from high in the trees--love it!

[havalotta]

Originally Posted by havalotta View Post
I was just going to tell her that. They actually raise that red bar to show off!

Originally Posted by dapjwy

Yes, I guess I should have read further down the thread before responding as well.

If you had,,, You probably wouldn't have responded and we would have missed the fact that the red patches were called epaulets!

A red-wing’s epaulets are like two badges that signal messages to other birds. In a way, male red-wings must earn these red-and-yellow badges. To earn them they must survive at least until their third year. The colorful epaulet feather pattern develops only after this age. It’s reserved for male red-wings with a proven ability to survive. The epaulets identify the wearer as an older, fitter, and more experienced bird. Also, birds displaying larger and brighter red badges may gain higher social status in a flock.

http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/marcia-davis/marcia-davis-male-blackbirds-most-important-color-isnt-black-ep-510505940-355540721.html

[Kildale]

Here are a couple of juveniles just to show the males developing.

[havalotta]

Niiiice. I've never viewed one at that stage!

[havalotta]

Little bit speckled yet like their mother

[linrose]

That's more like what I've seen, a yellow bar instead of red.

[Kildale]

Here are three different stages in the colors.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

If you had,,, You probably wouldn't have responded and we would have missed the fact that the red patches were called epaulets!
http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/marcia-davis/marcia-davis-male-blackbirds-most-important-color-isnt-black-ep-510505940-355540721.html

Very cool....thank you for the additional information.

Originally Posted by Kildale

Here are a couple of juveniles just to show the males developing.

Nice. I just saw two juveniles here the other day.

I just assumed that they were a year old and would gain their adult plumage this year...now, I've learned it takes longer. Based on the two I saw, I wonder if they were one year old...and those you posted may be two-year olds--just a guess on my part--yours look like they have more color than those I saw.