Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). 

An iconic resident blackbird who’s growing numbers warn of spring’s approach. 

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The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Red-winged blackbird song and "chack" call by Wil Hershberger (ML509910)
• Red-winged blackbird "peteeet" call by Richard W. Simmers (ML509931)
• Red-winged blackbird nest alarm by Wil Hershberger (ML509921)
• Red-winged blackbird flock calls by Randolph Little and James Kimball (ML509916)

Sources and more: 

• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird  
• https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-winged-blackbird 
• Dobson C, Kassenbaum D, Oehmke D, et al. 2023. Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois. Champaign-Urbana: Scissortail LLC. 
• Peterson RT, Peterson VM. 1980. A field guide to the birds : a completely new guide to all the birds of eastern and central North America. Fourth edition, completely revised and enlarged. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company (The Peterson field guide series ; 1). 
• Sibley D. 2016. Sibley birds East : field guide to birds of eastern North America. Second edition. New York: Alfred A. Knopf (Field guide to birds of eastern North America).