Those that breed in Canada and some of the north of the lower 48 migrate south for the winter. Red-winged Blackbirds remain all year in the lower 48 and the Pacific Coast of British Columbia. Females are rather dull in comparison with streaky brown coloring. Red-winged blackbirds are very common and easy to identify with the all-black coloring except for the reddish-orange wing patches. They appear in 41% of checklists in summer and 14% of checklists in winter submitted by bird watchers for the state. They are spotted in the state all year but more frequently in summer. Red-winged blackbirds are the mo st frequently spotted blackbirds in Kansas during summer and the second most during winter. This is called a murmuration and usually happens in winter in their native areas. You can attract more European Starlings to your backyard feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn, and peanuts.įun fact: European Starlings gather in their thousands in a swirling, dancing mass in the skies just before dusk. They have 3 – 6 eggs and take 12 days to hatch. Accessible at Nests of Starlings are often in buildings or nest boxes and made out of grass, pine needles, and other soft material. Starling sounds: Warbles, whistles, and chatter are all part of the starling’s calls and songs, and they can even mimic other birds’ calls. They will also eat fruit, including cherries, holly berries, mulberries, Virginia Creeper, sumac, and blackberries, as well as grains and seeds. Starlings eat insects, including beetles, flies and caterpillars, earthworms, and spiders. You can often spot them perched in groups on the top of trees or flying over fields. They are considered a pest due to their aggressive behavior, and they fly in large, noisy flocks. They occur in around 30% of checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.Įuropean Starlings are not native but are now one of the most numerous songbirds. They are stocky blackbirds with iridescent purple, green, and blue tones.Įuropean Starlings live in all North America, except the north of Canada and Alaska. European StarlingĮuropean Starlings are considered introduced species in Kansas that can be seen in the state all year. How Frequently Blackbirds are Spotted in Summer and Winter in Kansas 17 Species of Blackbirds in Kansas 1. The birds in this list are ordered by how frequently they are spotted in the state, from most frequent to least frequent, according to bird watchers’ checklists for the state submitted to ebird. This guide will help you identify the species of blackbirds spotted in Kansas according to avibase. Many blackbirds migrate, especially from more northern areas, so check out the end of the article to see how common each blackbird is in summer or winter to help you know when to look for them. Some orioles, on the other hand, build elaborate hanging nests.īlackbirds can strongly force their bills open to allow them to prize open gaps to get to hidden food, but most birds cannot do this. Nests are a fascinating subject when it comes to blackbirds as some don’t build them at all, like cowbirds, which instead lay their eggs in other species’ nests for the host family to raise their young. Male and female blackbirds can vary greatly in size and color, with males being up to 60% heavier than females and some having much brighter coloration. Of the eighteen species of blackbirds in Kansas, fifteen species are recognized on state checklists as regularly occurring, two species are considered rare or accidental, and three of these are also regarded as near-threatened or vulnerable. There are 25 species of New World Blackbirds spotted in North America, and 17 of these are spotted in Kansas, including Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and Bobolinks. They are classed as New World Blackbirds in North America to distinguish them from European Blackbirds which are part of the thrush family. Whether you consider them noisy pests or intelligent and bright acrobats, there is no doubt that blackbirds are fascinating birds.Īlthough named “blackbirds,” they are, in fact, often brightly colored and are all the Icteridae family, which are common songbirds. In fact, Bobolinks have decreased by up to 60% in the last 50 years, in part due to persecution and declining habitat. Due to their ability to devour vast quantities of seeds and grains, Blackbirds are considered an agricultural pest.
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