Tricolored Blackbird

Agelaius tricolor (Audubon, 1837)

Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor, is a passerine of the blackbird family found in North America and Middle America, breeding in California and northern Baja California. It is tied to the Pacific coast, with its range running from northern California south into upper Baja California. The species is notable for forming very large breeding colonies, often numbering tens of thousands of birds. Its name comes from the male’s white markings beneath the red shoulder patches, which show when it is in flight or displaying. It moves south to Mexico in colder months and returns to northern California in warmer ones.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Icteridae — Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds

Breeding range

North America, Middle America: California, n Baja California (nw Mexico)