What does the Red-winged Blackbird song sound like?

Agelaius phoeniceus

Song Abundant

Play the real Red-winged Blackbird song, the "conk-la-ree!", and learn what to listen for.

“conk-la-ree!”

What the Red-winged Blackbird song sounds like

The male's breeding song is a gurgling, rollicking "konk-la-ree!" or "o-ka-leee!" sound. It starts with a sharp note, slides into a musical trill and ends with a rolling trill. Males often fluff up their body and spread wings slightly to display the red epaulets when they sing. This song is commonly heard in spring and summer near wetlands.

“conk-la-ree!”

Birders often file this one under Conk-la-ree.

How to find the bird singing it

Marshes, wetlands, and also dry fields and meadows (particularly in non-breeding season). Breeds in fresh and brackish marshes, reedy ditches, wet meadows, and pond edges—anywhere with dense, tall vegetation (cattails, reeds, sedges) to conceal nests. Also uses upland fields, pastures, and rice fields. In migration and winter, often forages in agricultural fields, feedlots, prairies, and along roadsides, then roosts in wetlands or trees by the thousands.

Red shoulder patches: Male: glossy black overall with a red shoulder patch on the upperwing, usually with a yellowish border. When perched quietly, the red patch might be partially hidden, but in flight or display the red and yellow epaulet is obvious. Female: sparrow-like, heavily streaked dark brown and tan, with a distinct pale eyebrow line and often some rusty/orange tint on the throat or face. No wing bars on either sex. Both sexes have a sharply pointed black beak. In flight, males appear all black with a hint of red in the wing; females appear dark with streaks and a lighter belly. The contrast between the sexes and the male's red wing patch are diagnostic.

When you'll hear it

Summer

Breeds throughout much of North America from the southern half of Canada to the Gulf Coast. Particularly common in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast in wet habitats. Also on the West Coast and interior West wherever marshes exist. Absent only from extremely arid desert areas and tundra. In summer, found around virtually any marsh or wet ditch with tall plants.

Winter

In winter, withdraws from the northernmost breeding areas (most of Canada and the northern Great Plains). Very abundant in the southern US in winter. Huge flocks occupy the Southeast, southern Great Plains, West Coast, and Mexico. Many northern birds migrate to these regions. In milder parts of the breeding range (Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest), they remain all year but still form flocks.

Year-round

Year-round resident in much of the continental US (for example, California's Central Valley, the Southeast, Midwest around large wetland complexes). Even as year-round birds, their behavior changes seasonally (solitary in breeding season, flocking in off-season). Thus present all year but lifestyle shifts from territorial (spring/summer) to gregarious (fall/winter).

Migration

Migrates early; spring migration can start in February for males and peaks in March. Fall migration (August-October) is prolonged as birds gradually assemble into larger flocks and move south. Often migration is not obvious because of the tendency to flock—one day a wetland might suddenly have many more blackbirds as northern birds join locals. Some cross the Gulf to winter in Central America.

Red-winged Blackbird song FAQ

What does a Red-winged Blackbird song sound like?

How do I tell a Red-winged Blackbird from a Tricolored Blackbird by ear?

Tricolored Blackbird: Occurs in California primarily. Males look very similar but have a white (not yellow) border below the red shoulder patch.; Females are more uniformly dark charcoal-gray with lighter speckling, not distinctly streaky like female Red-winged..

When is the best time to hear the Red-winged Blackbird song?

One of the earliest spring migrants—males often arrive on breeding marshes as early as February in temperate areas, with females following later. Breeding occurs from early spring through summer; males aggressively defend territories, displaying their red shoulders and singing frequently. By late summer, they begin to flock up. In fall, massive roosts form (mixed with other blackbirds and grackles) which can number in the millions. They spend fall and winter in these nomadic flocks, feeding in fields by day and roosting in marshes or woodlands at night. Come late winter, males begin peeling off to head north, heralding the start of spring migration in February/March.

More Red-winged Blackbird sounds

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