{"id":97850,"date":"2021-12-03T05:38:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T12:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=97850"},"modified":"2021-12-03T05:38:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T12:38:44","slug":"hatch-year-male-red-winged-blackbird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/12\/03\/hatch-year-male-red-winged-blackbird\/","title":{"rendered":"Hatch Year Male Red-winged Blackbird"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HatchHatch year male Red-winged Blackbird in a Russian Olive \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Two days ago I spent just a few moments focused on a hatch year male Red-winged Blackbird perched in an Russian Olive tree near Glover Pond here in Utah. This blackbird and others that were in the introduced olive tree were mostly preening and looking around. This young male had taken a brief break from preening when I took this image.<\/p>\n

The olive tree setting is a little messy with all of the branches and leaves but I liked how well he and his dark plumage stood out from the pale leaves of the olive. The young male blackbird looks so perky in this photo.<\/p>\n

I would have liked to have stayed longer and photographed more of the blackbirds in this tree but something flushed them. There were more blackbirds on the other side of the road that I wanted to check out however the light angle on those birds was simply awful.<\/p>\n

So far birds are harder for me to find this fall in almost all of the locations that I go to when I am out in the field. I’m hoping that the change of weather in the forecast in the next week will mean more birds for me to find and photograph. I am not holding my breath though.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> 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 I spent just a few moments focused on a hatch year male Red-winged Blackbird perched in an Russian Olive tree near Glover Pond here in northern Utah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":97845,"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":[4151,3813,3483,6577,6189,715,5381,4060,4067,686,6583,4062,4094,4104,4324,5577,4427,4095,4193],"class_list":["post-97850","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-blackbird","tag-blackbirds","tag-branches","tag-elaeagnus-angustifolia","tag-glover-pond","tag-hatch-year","tag-icterids","tag-immature","tag-introduced","tag-leaves","tag-male","tag-marsh","tag-perched","tag-red-winged-blackbird","tag-russian-olive","tag-tree","tag-wetlands","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/red-winged-blackbird-hatch-year-male-olive-mia-mcpherson-6166.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-pse","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":97850,"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":75758,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/12\/05\/finding-two-uncommon-birds-in-one-week-rusty-blackbird-and-common-grackle\/","url_meta":{"origin":97850,"position":1},"title":"Finding Two Uncommon Birds In One Week – Rusty Blackbird And Common Grackle","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Finding two uncommon birds this week at the same olive tree really has me buzzed and to finally see a Rusty Blackbird has made me feel like jumping over the moon.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult male Rusty Blackbird in nonbreeding plumage, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/rusty-blackbird-mia-mcpherson-8554.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/rusty-blackbird-mia-mcpherson-8554.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/rusty-blackbird-mia-mcpherson-8554.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/rusty-blackbird-mia-mcpherson-8554.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31251,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/10\/29\/autumn-red-winged-blackbird-at-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":97850,"position":2},"title":"Autumn Red-winged Blackbird at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I photographed this male Red-winged Blackbird on the top of a cattail from the side of the road. I was only able to get a few images before this blackbird flew away.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Autumn Red-winged Blackbird, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-mia-mcpherson-5922.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-mia-mcpherson-5922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-mia-mcpherson-5922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49032,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/10\/19\/juvenile-red-winged-blackbird-male-diving-towards-the-ground\/","url_meta":{"origin":97850,"position":3},"title":"Immature Red-winged Blackbird Male Diving Towards The Ground","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The plumage of male juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds is highly variable during their first year, some of the young blackbirds can look like females and some can look more like adult males.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature male Red-winged Blackbird diving towards the ground, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9524.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-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9524.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/red-winged-blackbird-male-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9524.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-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9524.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101531,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/04\/12\/male-red-winged-blackbird-in-front-of-a-ranch-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":97850,"position":4},"title":"Male Red-winged Blackbird In Front Of A Ranch Pond","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this male Red-winged Blackbird in front of a ranch pond two days ago when it felt like spring in northern Utah. This morning there is snow on the ground.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Red-winged Blackbird perched in front of a ranch pond, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-winged-blackbird-male-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-6472.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-winged-blackbird-male-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-6472.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-winged-blackbird-male-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-6472.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/red-winged-blackbird-male-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-6472.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":117825,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/11\/05\/male-red-winged-blackbird-and-a-saltcedar\/","url_meta":{"origin":97850,"position":5},"title":"Male Red-winged Blackbird And A Saltcedar","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I saw this male Red-winged Blackbird perched in a Saltcedar on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and felt I had to stop to photograph him.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Red-winged Blackbird perched in a Saltcedar, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/red-winged-blackbird-saltcedar-mia-mcpherson-6081.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/red-winged-blackbird-saltcedar-mia-mcpherson-6081.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/red-winged-blackbird-saltcedar-mia-mcpherson-6081.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/red-winged-blackbird-saltcedar-mia-mcpherson-6081.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}