Red-winged Blackbird male next to the road at Farmington Bay – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It has been nearly a year since I posted any photos of Red-winged Blackbirds and since I took photos of a cooperative, sticky male yesterday I thought I should rectify that situation and share two photos here this morning.
If I hadn’t seen the remnants of the most recent snow on the ground, the ice on the water, felt the cold and if I had relied on only my ears and not my other senses I would have thought it was spring at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning because of the way the Red-winged Blackbirds were singing. The Red-winged Blackbird males seemed to be singing almost everywhere I could see them.
This male Red-winged Blackbird in the photo above was close to the road and he had nice light falling on him, light that helped to show some of the nice details in his black feathers.
Male Red-winged Blackbird singing in January – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The male Red-winged Blackbird moved from the original perch to another one less than three feet away and I like the gradient tones of colors in the background even more than what can be seen in the first photo, I especially love the blue at the top of the frame. He sang and displayed on this perch for several minutes before he flew off into the marsh.
I enjoyed hearing the Red-winged Blackbirds singing yesterday and photographing this male too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Interesting facts, I thought the RWB migrated every year. I didn’t know that some stayed year round,
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Kudos to you for capturing that oh-so-expressive face. Just lovely! Found a nice recording of their song and have been playing it as I’m enjoying your photos. You are absolutely right — life IS good!
Wonderful feather detail! We have had fewer Red-winged Blackbirds this winter. I hear one or two males or none where there usually are several this time of year. Yesterday a large same-sex flock of females descended on the local marsh where there was only one male that I could hear or see. They took off, maybe because of the slim pickings!
What a dramatic charmer. So glad he reminded you that spring IS on her way.
3 feet of snow and 10 degrees — but red-wings will be here in a few weeks. Nice to get the pre-view! Thanks.