Birds of North America
Puzzle 51 · Marshes and Fresh Water · Page 75 in print
Red-winged Blackbird
A female Red-winged Blackbird secures her nest by winding plant strips around upright stems, then shapes a cup with vegetation and mud.
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The words
Agelaius
The scientific genus of the species.
Barley
A crop among which nests may occur.
Cattail Leaves
Long leaves used as nesting material.
Cocklebur
A weed whose seeds are eaten in fall and winter.
Conk-la-ree
A written rendering of the male’s familiar song.
Cowbirds
Birds with which Red-winged Blackbirds may flock.
Goldenrod
An upland plant used for nest placement.
Grackles
Birds that join winter feeding and roosting flocks.
Mud Cup
The mud-plastered interior of the nest.
Phragmites
Grasslike marsh vegetation used for nesting.
Starlings
Another group sharing nonbreeding flocks.
Upright Stems
Supports around which the female weaves the nest.
Wet Leaves
Material woven into the nest above its foundation.
Willow Bark
Strips of this material have been recorded in a nest.
Yellow Border
The border around the male shoulder patch in many populations.
Sources
- Red-winged Blackbird: Life HistoryCornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-winged Blackbird: IdentificationCornell Lab of Ornithology