Migration Research Foundation - McGill Bird Observatory - Photo Library

McGILL BIRD OBSERVATORY

PHOTO LIBRARY

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicius)

Seasonal status at MBO:

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

common

fairly common

uncommon

rare

occasional

no records

QUICK TIPS:

1) In spring, sex can be determined by overall plumage - males are black and unstreaked, while females are brown and streaked

2) In fall, use wing chord to determine sex of juveniles - males are >110 mm, while females are <110 mm

3) In spring, examine the epaulettes - on ASY males they are red, on SY males they are orange and sometimes lightly spotted, on ASY females they may have a limited extent of dark red, and on SY females they are generally unmarked

4) Look at the underwing coverts - on HY/SY birds some feathers are usually pale brown and contrasting with surrounding darker feathers, while on AHY/ASY birds all underwing coverts are uniformly dark brown (females) or blackish (males)

Ageing and sexing guidelines:

The underwing is more helpful in ageing blackbirds than the primary covert/greater covert criteria used for most other passerines: older birds should not show any contrast between the greater underwing coverts and the adjacent tract, while younger birds will tend to show a contrast (dark and glossy vs gray/brown and dull). Often, however, age and sex can be determined simply by overall plumage.

January - July:

ASY - M Jet black body plumage with prominent and solid red/orange and yellow epaulettes.
ASY - F Streaky white and brown plumage with rusty-edged epaulettes and an orange/salmon wash around the face and throat.
SY - M Black body plumage with variable amounts of beige scalloping throughout. Epaulettes are usually orange with yellow and are spotted with black.
SY - F Streaky white and brown plumage with little colour in the face or epaulettes.

June - December:

AHY - M Black body feathers edged with brown. Epaulettes are solid, bright red/orange and yellow.
AHY - F Streaky white and brown plumage with rusty-edged epaulettes and an orange/salmon wash around the face and throat.
HY - M Blackish body plumage with variable amounts of beige scalloping throughout. Epaulettes are usually orange with yellow and are spotted with black.
HY - F Streaky white and brown plumage with little colour in the face or epaulettes.

Ageing and sexing details:

after-second-year male

ASY males are usually jet black with prominent and red/orange and yellow epaulettes.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, April 2006

The epaulettes, or shoulders, in an ASY M contain no trace of black. They are solidly bright red or orange and yellow.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: older birds tend to have broader, more truncate rectrices.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

after-second-year female

Always be sure to measure the wing: there are SY males that may remain in juvenal plumage, closely resembling females. Any female-looking bird with a wing measurement of over 112-113mm is not a female! ASY females are streaked brown and white and have significant amounts of pink/salmon in the face and throat.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, April 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, May 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

ASY females often have quite a bit of rusty edging in the shoulder. More importantly, there is no contrast between the greater underwing coverts and the adjacent feathers (shown below). Also note the quality of the underwing coverts. There is very little wear, indicating an older bird.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, April 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: older birds tend to have broader, more truncate rectrices.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, April 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

second-year male

Always be sure to measure the wing: there are SY males that may remain in juvenal plumage, closely resembling females (e.g. third photo below). Any female-looking bird with a wing measurement of over 112-113mm is actually a male! SY males are blackish with variable amounts of beige scalloping. As seen in these 3 photos, this variation can be quite significant.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2005

The epaulettes, or shoulders, are usually orange with yellow and are spotted with black. The underwing coverts should show a contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: younger birds tend to have thinner, more pointed rectrices

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

second-year female

SY females are, as with most species, the least colourful form, sporting brown and white streaked body plumage and very little to no colour in the shoulder, face or throat.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

The underwing coverts should show a contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: younger birds tend to have thinner, more pointed rectrices.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, April 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

after-hatch-year male

AHY males are usually black with brown-edged feathers.

The epaulettes, or shoulders, are solid, bright red/orange and yellow. Also, there should not be any contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: older birds tend to have broader, more truncate rectrices.

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

after-hatch-year female

AHY females are streaky white and brown plumage with rusty-edged epaulettes and a faint orange/salmon wash around the face and throat.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, July 2006

AHY females often have quite a bit of rusty edging in the shoulder. Also, there should not be any contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers. Any individual in the process of moulting its primaries or secondaries, as in the photo below, can immediately be assessed as AHY, since HY birds do not replace any flight feathers in their first prebasic moult.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, July 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: older birds tend to have broader, more truncate rectrices.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, July 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

hatch-year male

Always be sure to measure the wing, as young males can resemble females. Any female-looking bird with a wing measurement of over 112-113mm is not a female! HY males after their prebasic moult have blackish body plumage with variable amounts of beige scalloping throughout. As the prebasic moult may complete fairly late in fall, be sure to also consider juvenile plumage.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, October 2006

The epaulettes, or shoulders, are usually orange with yellow and are spotted with black. The underwing coverts should show a contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, October 2006

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: younger birds tend to have thinner, more pointed rectrices.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, October 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

hatch-year female

HY females are streaky white and brown with little to no colour in the face or epaulettes. Beware that HY males prior to their first prebasic moult may appear similar, though they can usually be distinguished by wing length (males > 112 mm). See also the juvenile account below.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, August 2007

The underwing coverts should show a contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, August 2007

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: younger birds tend to have thinner, more pointed rectrices.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, August 2007

juvenile

Juveniles of both sexes are brown and heavily streaked, much like HY/SY females. If the wings are fully grown, their length can be used to identify the sex of most individuals (females < 107 mm, males > 112 mm; uncertain if between 108 and 111).

The underwing coverts should show a contrast between the greater underwing coverts and adjacent feathers.

Tails are not generally important in ageing or sexing blackbirds, though the same rule applies to them as most other birds: younger birds tend to have thinner, more pointed rectrices.

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW