Readers will remember from previous posts that a leucistic male Red-winged Blackbird has been visiting my yard and feeders sporadically for the last several years – usually in early spring and late fall. I’ve also seen him at a pond near my home.
He’s easily recognized because nine of the ten primary feathers on his left wing and two of the secondary feathers on the same wing are pure white, as opposed to the glossy black feathers on the rest of his body. This photo of him at one of my feeders was taken the last time I saw him, on May 12th of this year.
I’ve seen him several times each year for the past several years but he’s been impossible to get quality photos of because he’s so spooky. I have to photograph him through the glass of my patio door because he always flies off when I open the door.
Yesterday morning while I was puttering around in my kitchen I suddenly heard the whirring of thousands of wings at the same time I saw things grow darker outside. Both the sound and the sudden darkness were caused by…
tens of thousands of starlings that were flying in to land on my leaf-covered back lawn. This is only a small portion of the starling flock. Many thousands more of them were perched in my big Catalpa trees and on everything else nearby – including my neighbor’s houses and yards. Friend and neighbor Shane Smith said he had at least as many on his back lawn. The noise they made was almost deafening.
As usual I had to take this cell phone photo, and all the others, through my patio door glass – thus the glare of the flash on the glass at upper center. It’s almost impossible to see but one of my feeders is directly below and slightly to the right of the circular glare spot.
Suddenly I noticed a flash of white from one of birds at that feeder (thanks to my ‘new eye’ for that!). It turned out that about a dozen of the “starlings” were actually Red-winged Blackbirds, all of which were fighting over the seed at the feeder.
And one of those blackbirds was…
my old friend, the leucistic blackbird. When his wings are folded you can only see white at the tip of his left wing.
This photo of him squabbling with one of his buddies illustrates the dramatic difference between him and a normally-colored adult male Red-winged Blackbird.
This is the best shot I’ve ever been able to get of the leucistic feathers on his left wing.
Perhaps the most interesting leucistic feather he has is the outer greater covert on his left wing – the smaller black and white feather just above his red and orange epaulet. It looks to me like that single feather is both black and white, with the colors split right up the middle.
This blackbird has become pretty special to me. If for no other reason than it’s the only blackbird, out of the literal millions I’ve seen over the years, that I can confidently recognize as a blackbird I’ve seen before.
I just might have to name him.
Ron
PS – I want you to know, yesterday afternoon I did finally get the leaves off my back lawn. It’s looking like getting my garden cleaned up may have to wait until spring. Oh well, more habitat for birds.
I remember that leucistic red wing blackbird from your earlier posts, and I also am happy to see him again. A word about autumn leaves. Here in the Chicagoland area we are hearing about a “Leave the leaves” campaign. It turns out a thin blanket of fallen leaves provide a natural fertilizer to jump-start the lawn in Spring (too many could possibly smother the grass). The dead leaves also harbor and shelter – in my area at least – pollinators and other insects important to our ecosystem. This year I actually moved some of the leaves from under the tree in front to the backyard lawn which had no leaves. (I wondered if the neighbors were staring out the window shaking their heads!) Do you have a similar “Leave the leaves” campaign in your area?
His markings are really beautiful! And a great photo, even if not with your usual equipment. The speckles on his head/back – is that their winter plumage?
Carolyn, when they’re younger, male plumages are highly variable – including having those “speckles”.
Wow! Thatsalotta birds! Lucky you to have such an inviting yard to attract all those wonderful visitors! (I think I see ol’ Hitch hiding behind the shed.)
So glad your leucistic friend is back. He is quite the looker and seems to be holding his own at the feeder.
“I think I see ol’ Hitch hiding behind the shed.”
I wouldn’t be surprised, Marty. It’s my understanding that he could be pretty sneaky.
Amazing! What show, and what are the odds?
“what are the odds?”
Pretty long, I’d say.
The leucistic fella is quite the wonderment—in every way, including lifespan. But is it possible he’s an offspring who inherited both the leucism and the affinity for your yard?
As for the starlings … I have occasional visits from a half dozen at a time to my fountain and birdbath, and the noise they make is awesome—I can’t imagine hundreds or thousands of them!
Yes, It’s possible, Chris. See my response to Trudy below.
My bad, I spoke before I read … either too much coffee or not enough!
So I’ll be watching for the next leucistic RWBB installment!
Wow that is a lot of birds, your seed won’t last long! So wonderful to see the pied red-wing black bird again! I have often found in those large flocks, often taken for just starlings, are a mixed flock of starlings, and blackbirds, red-wing, yellow-headed and Brewer’s too. I once posted a photo long ago on a birding site of a huge flock in fields along Forest Street, one of the prominent birders in the area wanted to argue they were all starlings. I said I have often seen mixed flocks and to blow up my photo to see individual birds where the wing, head and eye color could be seen in some. He just wanted to argue the fact so I moved on and stopped answering.
There’s a jerk in every crowd, isn’t there April. At least one.
Wow, wow and wow. What an incredibly birdy day – and I love that your old friend returned. And that your new eye alerted you to his presence.
What a win.
Our garden clean up can wait too – for similar but different reasons. It is too damn hot. And yes, there are out of control fires burning.
Thank you, EC. It’s too warm here also, at least for the time of year. And too dry.
Amazing. You might want to put a leash on him/her. )) ALL great shots.
Your story line and pictures are great. The leaves on the lawn drew the birds in, so they could hunt and peck for insects and maybe a nice fat worm. Interesting about your 15 year old Red winged Blackbird. Could he pass that trait on to an offspring? Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends.
“Could he pass that trait on to an offspring?”
That’s an interesting question that I’ve been pondering, Trudy – for reasons related to a mystery I discovered this morning involving leucistic blackbirds. I may be posting about that mystery sometime soon.
So cool! Great photos!
Thanks, Barbara.
Wow!! What a special experience witnessing and hearing that massive flock! Agree you should name the blackbird – maybe Tux or Oreo? A few years ago I dressed as Tippi for Halloween! Attached six birds to my hair and dress – won a costume award!!
“maybe Tux or Oreo?”
I love both names, Kathleen – so much I’ll have a hard time deciding between them. But I’ll bet I’ll settle on one of them. Thanks!
Really enjoyed your Halloween story.
How about Tuxeo or Oreux? Or Tuxeoreux if you can’t decide.
Marty, I think I like plain ol’ Tux or Oreo better.
Ever since I read a book titled “The Painted Bird”, I’ve wondered if
the premise it was based upon– that the normally-colored birds of
a species would flock to attack an anomalously -colored bird of the
same species is true– have you ever heard of this concept ? I think
it was a thinly-veiled reference to Nazi targeting of Jews, gypsies,
homosexuals, and so on……seeing the leucistic blackbird made me
wonder again if there were any truth to that concept ?
Kris, I’ve heard of the concept but don’t think I’ve ever seen it in birds.
It is good to see him again! And wow! “The Birds”
I looked closely at the photo to see if the ghost of Hitchcock was there.
Brett, I didn’t see Hitchcock’s ghost but I swear that Tippi Hedren was trembling in fear behind my back fence…
Ron,
So unique and beautiful.
Thank you, Steven.
WOW! That flock IS impressive! Is amazing how much noise and light reduction even a large flock of the Grey Crowned Rosy Finches I get can cause!
Glad the leucistic Red Winged Blackbird continues to return. I’m surprised it has lasted this long but then I’ve never pondered how long they live…..
Yep, garden going to wait for a spring clean out – often does as plants are good snow catchers with our wind.
Judy, some sources claim that the average life span of Red-winged Blackbirds in the wild is only two years. However, at least one has been documented to live for 15 years and 9 months.
You know how jealous I am of your Grey Crowned Rosy Finches.
That is remarkable to have two leucistic birds there at the same time.
And also remarkable is that invasion of Starlings. On a couple occasions I have seen 4 or 5 Starlings here that must have strayed from the large flight. I have never seen a large flight of Starlings here.
Everett, there was only one leucistic blackbird.
At certain times of year I often see large flocks of starlings in my neighborhood and in my yard. But this flock was larger than any others I’ve seen in my yard.