The Red-winged Blackbird male is black

The Red-winged Blackbird, photo taken by Gayle Trivers

with red shoulders, while the female is brownish and has dark stripes on her breast. Though they have a rather large dash of red on their shoulders, they usually have it concealed, and only the yellow margin is shown, making them seem unfaithful to their name. They are spotted most often in late March and they migrate in late October. Their song sounds kind of like a tranquil liquidy gurgled konk-la-ree or o-ka-lay. They often roost in large flocks and are seen in marshes, brushy swamps, hayfields, and along the edges of water.