Very similar to Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored has a longer thinner bill and more pointed wings. Alternate Male: Glossier black overall than male Red-winged with a bluish cast in bright sunlight. The lesser coverts are blood-red, the median coverts are ivory to white, forming a red "epaulet" with a white border. On Red-winged, the epaulet is orange-red with a yellow border or no border. Basic Male: Like alternate, but with pale feather edges. Female: Upperparts are blackish to dark charcoal gray with cold gray streaks, an indistinct gray supercilium and just a hint of a reddish epaulet. The upperparts never show the rufous feather edging seen on female Red-wings. The throat is whitish with dark streaks extending onto the breast. The belly is solid blackish or dark charcoal gray.

Length: 18 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a growling ker-aaaaa, or ker-ooo-waaaa, shorter and less musical than Red-winged. Call is a low wuk.

Habitat:

Nests in cattail marshes, blackberry thickets, crop fields, riparian corridors. Forages in pastures, crop fields, range lands.

Behavior:

Usually found in large flocks. Nesting colony sites change from year to year.

Feeding:

Feeds on insects, grain, aquatic invertebrates.