Prairie Starling

Among our most familiar birds, the Red-winged Blackbird seems to sing its nasal songs in every marsh and wet field from coast to coast. They are notably bold, and several will often attack a larger bird, such as a hawk or crow, that flies over their nesting area. The red shoulder patches of the male, hidden under body feathers much of the time, are brilliantly displayed when he is singing. Outside the nesting season, Red-winged Blackbirds sometimes roost in huge concentrations.