Here, we see a male Red-Winged Blackbird smugly surveying his beautiful estate on Saturday, June 5. This year, he and his mate own a lovely corner of our pond.
He has even more reason to be proud. It looks like he’s about to become a Dad – again; probably before Father’s Day.
Leighton Archive Image
Mom is quite different from Dad. She’s much smaller and looks like a Hollywood version of a sparrow. But, she can flash her usually covered red-orange epaulets in a very beguiling way.
Mom has been sitting in the reeds unusually long lately. At this rate, these Red-Wings might even have a third brood this year. Unfortunately for me – but certainly not her family – she has placed her nest where I can’t get a straight shot at it without invading the entire family’s comfort zone. So, I have no nest shots of her and the youngsters this year.
However, I do have this image from a prior year:
Leighton Archive Image
(Brooklin, Maine).