Red-Wing Blackbirds

For the past week, we have noticed large flocks of opportunistic blackbirds migrating north along our rivers and fields, where they stop and forage for anything edible as they also look for ideal brushy wet areas to hide their future nests in. Most of our fields still have snow on them, and today another 8 inches blew in, driving the birds into low brush to huddle against the 17F wind.

Unable to find normal food under a deepening snow cover, the birds have taken to raiding our bird feeder, where their size gives them considerable bargaining power for rapidly dwindling seed. This male red-wing blackbird inspects the feeder's tray for easy pickings, his scarlet epaulets hidden by special feathers until better weather arrives with the more sensible females.