{"id":65045,"date":"2020-02-22T05:26:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-22T12:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=65045"},"modified":"2025-05-21T14:47:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:47:34","slug":"male-red-winged-blackbirds-are-displaying-on-territory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/02\/22\/male-red-winged-blackbirds-are-displaying-on-territory\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Red-winged Blackbirds Are Displaying On Territory"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MaleMale Red-winged Blackbird “Song Spread” \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning temps have been on the chilly side recently but that hasn’t slowed down some of the signs of spring’s impending arrival. Marsh Wrens have begun to sing again and male Red-winged Blackbirds have joined the chorus.<\/p>\n

Two days ago there were plenty of male Red-winged Blackbirds singing and putting on displays in the marshy areas of Farmington Bay WMA<\/span><\/a>. There were several male blackbirds that were close enough to photograph and I took advantage of that.<\/p>\n

I prefer to photograph Red-winged Blackbird males in early morning or late afternoon light because during that time it is easier for digital camera sensors to pick up the fine details in their dark plumage.<\/p>\n

It was not long after the sun had risen above the Wasatch Mountains when I spotted and photographed this male Red-winged Blackbird displaying and singing on territory. “Song Spread” is one of the most common displays of male Red-winged Blackbirds, this display can vary from lower to full intensity and may be done without obvious recipients nearby.<\/p>\n

Over the next few weeks I know I will be seeing and hearing more Red-winged Blackbirds perched high, singing, displaying and chasing each other and before too long I will also start seeing the females with nesting materials in their bills. The month of February is nearly over and March will be here in a blink of an eye and March is usually when I first start seeing female Red-winged Blackbirds gathering nesting materials.<\/p>\n

After a long winter it is refreshing and rejuvenating to see and hear the signs of spring. I’m very much looking forward to witnessing the renewal of growth, snow melt and the return of our migrant birds.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two days ago there were plenty of male Red-winged Blackbirds singing and putting on displays in the marshy areas of Farmington Bay WMA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":145856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1022,697,419,26],"tags":[4151,8885,3813,3483,929,779,8883,4062,8884,4104,8886,4059,6428,4324,8882,165],"class_list":["post-65045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-red-winged-blackbirds","category-utah","tag-agelaius-phoeniceus","tag-arrival","tag-blackbird","tag-blackbirds","tag-chasing","tag-displaying","tag-full-intensity","tag-male","tag-meduim-intensity","tag-perched","tag-perched-display","tag-phragmites","tag-phrags","tag-red-winged-blackbird","tag-song-spread","tag-spring"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-winged-blackbird-displaying-mia-mcpherson-2276.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-gV7","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60965,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/22\/immature-male-red-winged-blackbird\/","url_meta":{"origin":65045,"position":0},"title":"Immature Male Red-winged Blackbird","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this young male Red-winged Blackbird singing at the top of a Russian olive tree at Farmington Bay WMA nine days ago.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature male Red-winged Blackbird singing from the top of a tree, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/red-winged-blackbird-immature-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/red-winged-blackbird-immature-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/red-winged-blackbird-immature-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/red-winged-blackbird-immature-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":122239,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/01\/male-red-winged-blackbird-singing-in-a-marsh\/","url_meta":{"origin":65045,"position":1},"title":"Male Red-winged Blackbird Singing In A Marsh","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"One week ago, my ears were delighted to hear this male Red-winged Blackbird singing and calling on the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA. His display was mesmerizing.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Red-winged Blackbird singing in February, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-9213.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-9213.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-9213.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-adult-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-3655.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-adult-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-3655.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-adult-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-3655.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-adult-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-3655.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55877,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/31\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-in-january\/","url_meta":{"origin":65045,"position":3},"title":"Red-winged Blackbird Male Singing In January","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Red-winged Blackbird singing in January, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-singing-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14662,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/01\/springtime-male-red-winged-blackbird-at-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":65045,"position":4},"title":"Springtime Male Red-winged Blackbird At Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning's sunny weather felt lovely compared to Sunday which was gray, windy, rainy and snowy and maybe this male Red-winged Blackbird was feeling the difference in weather too.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-winged Blackbird male on a spring day, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0977.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0977.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0977.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0977.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60640,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/02\/male-red-winged-blackbird-on-a-sunflower-perch\/","url_meta":{"origin":65045,"position":5},"title":"Male Red-winged Blackbird On A Sunflower Perch","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Autumn is a time when the seeds of many plants that the Red-winged Blackbirds feed upon have ripened and the birds are taking full advantage of the season's bounty and spend a large part of their days foraging.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Red-winged Blackbird perched on a sunflower, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, 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