---
title: "All About Birds: Red-winged Blackbird"
---

[![cornell lab](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-292886470.png?width=527&height=99&name=file-292886470.png "cornell lab")](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478)

## Red-winged Blackbird 

## ![REWBLA_2510x1590_ted_schroeder](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-273212713.jpg)

 © Ted Schroeder

| ![what_they_eat](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-219239072.jpg?width=106&height=182&name=file-219239072.jpg) | **What they eat:** Red-winged Blackbirds tend to eat insects and weedy seeds, although they’ll visit backyards with mixed grains and seeds spread on the ground. |
| --- | --- |
| ![how_they_sound](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-218885748.jpg?width=194&height=182&name=file-218885748.jpg "how_they_sound") | **Where they live:** These birds live in wet habitats, especially marches. They are found extensively throughout North America, from southern Alaska and central Canada to Costa Rica, and from California to the Atlantic Coast. |
| **![where_they_live](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-219130301.jpg?width=93&height=79&name=file-219130301.jpg "where_they_live")** | **Did you know? **Male Red-winged Blackbirds fiercely defend their territories, attacking other males, predators, and even much larger animals like horses or humans! |
| **![did_you_know](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-218887603.jpg?width=118&height=87&name=file-218887603.jpg)** | **How they sound:** ****The typical call of a Red-winged Blackbird is a distinctive, matter-of-fact *check* sound. |

 

**![sound](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-230263965.jpg?width=20&height=16&name=file-230263965.jpg) [Listen to the Red-winged Blackbird](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-292559625.mp3?hsLang=es).**

** **

**To learn more, visit the Cornell Lab's free website: [www.allaboutbirds.org](http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id).**

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