Red-winged Blackbird
“Symbolism is uniquely human. We use symbols to represent intangible things like our beliefs and emotions, and to convert the abstract into something understandable. We may also use symbols to simplify and convey information.”
To me, the Red-winged Blackbird is a symbol of spring. I eagerly await the arrival of the males in early March, listening for their unique “Conk-aleee!” territorial call that tells me the long winter is over and warm days will soon follow.
WordPress Photography Challenge: Symbol
Eliza Waters 
Gosh he’s pretty. We don’t have them here~
Too bad… but you’ve got roadrunners! 😉
Red-winged blackbirds are significant in my family as well. Thanks for the link to the sound; that’s helpful.
Thank you, Maggie. All About Birds is a great website – so much good info. Thanks for your visit!
Handsome symbol of spring. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. 🙂
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I’ve seen red-winged blackbirds on rare occasions, and each time I’m excited because I can identify them. Thank goodness their name & markings match up. Thanks for the link to their call. It’s cool to hear them.
Thanks, M. I love that call, the voice of spring! ❤
I love them. Haven’t seen any this year and I’m not sure why.
I’ve heard that their winter range (along with bobolinks) is contracting due to habitat loss. They are still a species of least concern, but I think the bobolinks may be on the watch list.
Beautiful Eliza. Amazing bird. 🙂
Thank you, Karen. 🙂
I love the call of the red-winged blackbird. Great shot Eliza!
Thanks, Julie!
Wonderful shot, Eliza! There was a time when I wasn’t sure Red-winged Blackbirds existed. I’d never seen one before I married, and it was my husband who was always trying to point them out to me. We’d be driving down a highway or back road and he’d point and shout, “There’s a red-winged blackbird!” and of course, by the time I looked, we were past it and I didn’t see it. This went on for years until finally we were going slow enough one day (I think it was when we lived in Missouri, which means “years” would have been 17 years) that I finally saw one. After that, they were everywhere. 🙂
It’s always a treat to see these, even though they seem common. I love the way they swoop over grasses, whether in marshes or fields. Lovely photo!
Thank you! 🙂
Oh, this is so great Eliza. As you know, I am a fellow “symbol watcher”. I am always looking for symbols in my life 🙂
Thanks, Kim. We can learn a lot from them!
I have been feeding a lot of Red winged Blackbirds this year and have gotten some great pictures of them. My African Grey Sasha also mimics their communications and chats with them quite often.
Oh, that’s wonderful – I’d love to hear Sasha sometime. You’ll have to post a video. 😉 Good to hear from you!
She has her own u tube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmVLjeT1XYTTdFz3PrBHJmQ
Thanks for sharing that link! My dog was very curious about the dog that was in my computer!
oh that’s funny. Yesterday the dogs were outside just chilling and Sasha was in the window meowing and had them dogs up and running around looking for a cat to chase. It was so funny . I came out from my room and had no intention of taking the dogs out and Sasha says “Want to go outside” and both dogs are headed for the door. So I have to take them out and that is Sasha. Sometimes she laughs after.
She’s a clever little devil! 😀
My symbol of spring as well! Love your choice. They are very active at my feeders right now – both male and female – the males displaying their red badges often.
I, too, love that flash of color. Have a great week Kathy!
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We have different birds in Australia, which many of my overseas friends describe as exotic and unusual, but I still enjoy seeing the beautiful birdlife from different countries too. I often wonder how the birds sense the changing season, they are clever little things. 🙂
Hi Joanne, I agree, seeing exotic birds is always of interest to me as well.
I think most birds migrate by angle of the sun, sensing the seasonal change, whereas a few are temperature triggered, which is problematic for them with climate change. Pretty much all travel following magnetic fields – they have little compasses in their heads! http://www.allaboutbirds.org has a mountain of info if you are ever interested.
I’ve bookmarked the website Eliza, thank you! 🙂
You’re welcome!
I never see them in my garden but when I bike the mississippi river every morning they are darting all about near the waters edge:-) They are pretty!
I seldom see them in my yard, but the farm up the road attracts them with the grain that spills via the horses. This photo was taken at the pond atop the hill that feeds our stream.