There was a lot of bird activity early yesterday morning as I walked through the cattail-filled marshy area of Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia. Many of the birds were in groups, it seemed, including large flocks of noisy black birds that several of my fellow bloggers have helped me identify as grackles.
Most of the birds seemed to be be passing through and perched high in trees or landed too far away for me to capture them individually with my modest telephoto zoom. (Another photographer I saw had a massive 600mm telephoto lens with a 1.4x teleconverter attached and seemed to have greater success.)
However, I was able to take this photo of bird on a cattail stalk and amazingly I can identify it—it’s a male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). I realize that the Red-winged Blackbird is probably one of the easiest birds to identify (along with the robin, bluejay, and cardinal), but I have had so many problems recently identifying the birds in my photos that it is satisfying to be able get one right.
There were flocks of birders present too, equipped with telescopes and binoculars, and some of them were almost as loud as the grackles. I heard lots of interesting debates, like whether a large bird soaring in the distance was a red-shouldered hawk or a redtail hawk (and I had no idea previously that there was a bird called a Coopers hawk). Most of the bird people were so intense that I didn’t dare to attempt to engage them in conversation. One gentlemen, however, talked with me at length, periodically referring to a tattered guide that he had with him (it was a Peterson’s guide to birds east of the Rockies and he recommended it for a beginner like me). I think that I may have to break down and buy a little guide like that to start to learn more about birds.
For now, I’m happy that I can identify a Red-winged Blackbird most of the time, especially a male one!
Red-winged Blackbird on a cattail
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful
We have these here in NM too. They make a lot of noise and infuriate my cats by being very difficult to catch.
When they are by themselves, the sound is tolerable, but when there was a whole flock of them,the volume was almost earsplitting.
That’s a common bird up here too – and also one of the few I can identify. You’re definitely not alone.
It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who is identification “challenged.” Maybe we need a support group!
That’s funny! I’ve lost track of all the support groups I should have joined.
I highly recommend the Peterson East of the Rockies. I’ve used mine for 25 years or so. Did the gentleman mention the sharp-shinned hawk. It’s fun telling them apart from the Cooper’s (There are distinguishing features.) Great pict of red-wing.
I’ll probably be ordering the guide in the next few days. I guess the current version is now called the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern and Central North America. As for the sharp-shinned hawk, I don’t think that I heard it mentioned (though I confess that I had already started tuning out part of their conversation since I didn’t even see the bird to which they were referring.
You’ll have so much fun learning birds. I recommend saving shore birds for much later. It’s hard to see if the least sandpiper, a 5-6 inch bird, that’s standing in the mud, has yellow legs … not to mention they’re way over yonder.
People who can accurately identify birds, plants, mushrooms, or what have you will always tell you that they rely heavily on guide books if they’re being honest. I have a bookcase full of them. Used book stores are an excellent source.
Thanks for the tip. I may have to check out used guides. In some cases, I’ve read, the older guides may be even better than the newer ones.