Birds Posters
Blackbird
The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a species of true thrush.
This bird was described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 as Turdus merula.
The binomial name derives from two Latin words, turdus, thrush, and merula, blackbird, the latter giving rise to its French name, merle.
The Brewer Blackbird is named after American ornithologist and naturalist Thomas Mayo Brewer.
One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails,
along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel.
Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow.
In the North, their early arrival and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring.
During migration the Red-winged Blackbird can travel at over 30 mph.
Each pair of Red-winged Blackbirds raise 2-3 broods per season.
Each time they build a new nest, which keeps the nest from becoming infected with parasites that could kill the baby birds.
The Red-winged Blackbird is native to North America.
Yellow-headed blackbirds are found in freshwater marshes during the summer. They particularly like to live amongst cattails, tule, and bulrush.
His bright yellow hood and black body best identify the male Yellow-headed Blackbird.
A white patch on his wing can be seen both while perched or flying. The female's coloring is more subdued.
Both male and female Yellow-headed Blackbirds are 24 cm long and have sharply pointed black bills.
Depending on the quality of his territory, a male Yellow-headed Blackbird may be able to acquire up to six mates.
Males who acquire new territory do not destroy broods sired by the previous territorial male.
In winter, single-species flocks may form, sometimes consisting of all males or all females.
Large foraging flocks move in a rolling fashion, birds from the back of the flock fly over the rest to the front.
They have one of the most unique bird calls. It has been described as a strange mixture of honking, gurgling and strangling noises.