Red-shouldered blackbird
Red-shouldered blackbird | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Icteridae |
Genus: | Agelaius |
Species: | A. assimilis
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Binomial name | |
Agelaius assimilis | |
Range of A. assimilis |
The red-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius assimilis), known in
The males are very similar to those of the red-winged blackbird (
It is found only in the wetlands of the island of Cuba. Although its reduced
Taxonomy and systematics
It was previously considered a
The red-shouldered blackbird is one of the eleven
The red-shouldered blackbird was described as a species, Agelaius assimilis, by
Although the red-winged blackbird exhibits large regional variations in size, the basic plumage pattern of the female, brown and intensely veined, is visible across a wide range, except in the subspecies, A. p. gubernator, were the veining of the female is greatly reduced and is restricted to the throat, while the rest of the plumage is very dark brown (but not black as in assimilis). In the Californian subspecies, A. p. californicus and A. p. mailliardorum, the veining of the female specimens also appears reduced and the plumage is dark brown, although not to the gobernator grade. Although not stated explicitly, the tendency of these populations to vary in female plumage in the direction of assimilis almost certainly influenced the decision of Hellmayr and other ornithologists to consider it the end point of variations in the plumage color of the female of A. phoeniceus.[11]
The red-winged and red-shouldered blackbird are each other's closest relatives. The tricolored blackbird is believed to be an earlier offshoot species within the Agelaius genus.[4]
There are two subspecies:
- A. a. assimilis – western Cuba.[3][4]
- A. a. subniger – Isle of Youth. There is dispute concerning the status of this population as a subspecies.[3][4]
Description
The red-shouldered blackbird closely resembles the more numerous and widespread red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), but in contrast to phoeniceus, assimilis males and females are closer in relative size, the female is all-black instead of brown-streaked, and paired birds are monogamous. Males are about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in length and weigh about 46 to 54 grams, while females are about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length and 36 to 43 grams. Like male phoeniceus, male red-shouldered blackbirds have prominent red epaulets on their wings, fringed with yellow. Immature male birds have dull epaulets, and immature females have a brownish color.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The red-shouldered blackbird is sedentary, entirely confined to a few marshy areas on western parts of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud.[4] The similar red-winged blackbird's range extends to western Cuba.[12]
Behavior
The red-shouldered blackbird breeds only in the
Red-shouldered blackbirds have been observed singing and feeding in pairs during the pre-nesting period.[7] Songs are most common in intersexual interactions before the birds are in their breeding territories. In contrast to the red-winged blackbird, the red-shouldered blackbird sings relatively little, and aggressive interactions are rare when on their breeding grounds. In this species, the songs of the male and female are similar and can occur both alone and in duets. This differs from most dueting species, in which each sex has its own songs. The song of the male and female red-shouldered blackbird resembles that of the male red-winged blackbird. [5] When they sing in duet, the male is perched above the female in most cases, and the pair usually face each other.[6]
Flocking behavior of assimils is similar to that of phoeniceus. Like phoeniceus, assimilis breeds in marshy areas, eating insects, seeds and fruits. Breeding season extends from April-May to August.[4]
Status
The
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Red-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius assimilis". BirdLife International. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "Red-shouldered Blackbird". Avibase. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Red-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) – Neotropical Birds. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ JSTOR 4163811. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 4088178. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 1369864. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "Agelaius assimilis Lembeye, 1850". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Lowther, P.E.; Fraga, R.; Schulenberg, T.S. (2011). "Nomenclatural solution for a polyphyletic Agelaius". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 124 (3): 171–177.
- JSTOR 4059670. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 4163690. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Red-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) – Neotropical Birds". Retrieved July 10, 2011.
External links
- BirdLife species factsheet for Agelaius assimilis
- Agelaius assimilis at Avibase
- Red-shouldered blackbird photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Red-shouldered blackbird species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
- Audio recordings of Red-shouldered blackbird on Xeno-canto.