Tricolored Blackbird

Agelaius tricolor

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

22 cm (9") It was common in western United States coastal states (southern Oregon to northwestern Baja California) in freshwater marshes, fields, open country. However due to reduced habitat the population has declined by more than 40% in the last decade.

Male: all black with a white-bordered red wing patch. Similar male Red-winged Blackbird's red wing patch is lighter and has a yellow border.

Female: resembles female Red-winged Blackbird but has a solid dark belly and rump.

Highly gregarious, found in flocks.

Song: similar to Red-winged Blackbird's but more nasal and less musical; nasal "kemp" call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Female at Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge in California

Credit: Alan Vernon

Credit: Bill Bouton

Female - Mines Road, Alameda County, California - November 7, 2011

Credit: Ken Schneider

Mercey Hot Springs, California, US - March 25, 2005

Credit: Marcel Holyoak

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Massive flock of Tricolored Blackbirds in Kern County

Credit: audubonca

A Field Of Birds

Credit: tiburonaudubon

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Tricolored Blackbird (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Red or orange stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:983-tricolored-blackbird-male:1:1 Source: 983 Tricolored Blackbird (Male), row 1

Tricolored Blackbird (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Was the BELLY STREAKED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:984-tricolored-blackbird-female:1:1 Source: 984 Tricolored Blackbird (Female), row 1