Female Red-winged Blackbird on a wild sunflower stalkFemale Red-winged Blackbird on a wild sunflower stalk – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Many species of birds on Antelope Island State Park are pigging out on wild sunflower seeds at this time of the year including Red-winged Blackbirds. Some years the wild sunflowers are very abundant on the island and this was one of those years and although they are gorgeous while they are blooming and attract lots of bees, butterflies and other insects it is during the fall when they attract birds because of their seeds.

A few days ago this female Red-winged Blackbird landed on a sunflower stalk close to me with a distant rabbitbrush in the background and proceeded to pluck sunflower seeds and eat them in nice morning light.

Peeking female Red-winged BlackbirdPeeking female Red-winged Blackbird – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Typically I wouldn’t save an image like this one where the head of my subject is partially hidden but I thought the female blackbird looked kind of cute peering at me from behind the wild sunflower stems and seed heads. The wilted yellow flower petals add a nice bright touch of color to the images.

Female Red-winged Blackbird eating wild sunflower seedsFemale Red-winged Blackbird eating wild sunflower seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The Red-winged Blackbird female hung around long enough for me to take a couple of dozen photos of her as she grabbed seeds with her bill and chowed down on them.

It wasn’t long after this photo was taken that something spooked the blackbirds, finches and sparrows in the area and they all flew off in a hurry but I’m glad I had a few moments with this Red-winged Blackbird before she left.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.