Red-Winged Blackbird in Wild Mustard Long Sleeve T-Shirt

This field abuts Green Lane Reservoir in Pennsburg, PA. The wild mustard was blooming, and the male red-winged blackbird flew down to look for a snack. This picture was taken May 3, 2011.

If you see a healthy stand of cattails, you'll most likely see red-winged blackbirds. They love wetland areas where food and water are abundant, and nesting sites are easy to find.

Although these birds are not as aggressive as mockingbirds when defending their territories, they are not slackers. They readily attack other birds, snakes, and even people who threaten nests. One male may have as many as 15 females nesting in his territory but (LOL) a fair number of the chicks can be fathered by other males.

The oldest recorded Red-winged blackbird was 15 years/9 months old. They are social birds forming large flocks and ranging widely to find food.

For more information, visit:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/lifehistory...

I always wanted to try photography, and my retirement offered an opportunity to do just that. The natural world is my first love. Here you will find pictures of things both large (landscapes, for instance) and small (macro) that catch my eye. I hope the images serve as a window into the natural world many of you don't have the chance to see. In a sense, I'm trying to create a guided nature trail, sharing what information I have about the subject. I'm always grateful for new and better information and welcome all input. Learning is food for the mind and soul. Nothing is ever harmed in the picture-taking process, but some things that wander into our home (like spiders) are carefully removed from the house after they serve as "models"....