Red-winged Blackbird Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song (Red-winged)
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Maryland, March 28, 1999Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song (Red-winged)
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Massachusetts, April 01, 1964Recorded by Richard W. Simmers / Macaulay Library
Song (Red-winged)
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Washington, March 15, 2018Recorded by Dave Slager / Macaulay Library
Song (Red-winged)
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New York, April 12, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song (Red-winged)
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Massachusetts, June 07, 1964Recorded by Richard W. Simmers / Macaulay Library
Duet (Red-winged)
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Massachusetts, May 17, 1963Recorded by Richard W. Simmers / Macaulay Library
Song (Red-winged)
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Colorado, May 26, 2012Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Calls (Red-winged)
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Colorado, May 15, 2013Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Calls (Red-winged)
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Maryland, March 15, 1998Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-winged)
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California, June 05, 2014Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-winged)
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Ohio, May 12, 1980Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-winged)
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Maryland, April 22, 1999Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-winged)
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Maryland, April 22, 1999Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-winged)
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Maryland, February 27, 1998Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song (California Bicolored)
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California, April 06, 2016Recorded by Ed Pandolfino / Macaulay Library
Song (California Bicolored)
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California, October 25, 2020Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Song (California Bicolored)
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California, October 24, 2020Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Song (California Bicolored)
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California, March 24, 2009Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Duet (California Bicolored)
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California, March 24, 2009Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Calls (California Bicolored)
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California, May 24, 2020Recorded by Brian Sullivan / Macaulay Library
Calls (California Bicolored)
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California, April 25, 2020Recorded by Paul Fenwick / Macaulay Library
Calls (California Bicolored)
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California, April 18, 1959Recorded by Arthur A. Allen / Macaulay Library
Song (Mexican Bicolored)
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Ciudad de México, July 25, 2020Recorded by manuel grosselet / Macaulay Library
Song (Mexican Bicolored)
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Jalisco, May 25, 2015Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Calls (Mexican Bicolored)
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Jalisco, May 25, 2015Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Calls (Mexican Bicolored)
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Jalisco, May 25, 2015Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The male Red-winged Blackbird’s conk-la-ree! is a classic sound of wetlands across the continent. The 1-second song starts with an abrupt note that turns into a musical trill. Males often sing from a high perch while leaning forward, drooping their wings, spreading their tail feathers, and fluffing their bright shoulder patches to show them off. Females give a very different song in response to a singing male, a series of three to five short chit or check notes.

Calls

The typical call of a Red-winged Blackbird is a distinctive, matter-of-fact check that’s fairly easy to recognize. Males and females make these calls all year round, in flight and while feeding, when confronting rivals and to raise an alarm. They also give a more intense alarm call, a fast, scolding chak chak chak.