Red-Winged Balckbirds, Brown-Headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles - All Just Passing Through

Spring is beginning. During the last week, combined flocks of many different bird types have been arriving and departing. It started in small numbers (robins and red-winged blackbirds). But this weekend, the flow clearly increased.

I previously mentioned that red-winged blackbirds are not observed in the Habitat for the late spring and summer. So I am rather confident that the dozen or so males (the females look a lot like starlings and are harder for me to count) are transients.

With them yesterday were grackles and brown-headed cow birds. In the photos, the males all have black bodies and beaks. The red-wings (first and second photos) have the red (really orange) wing stripe; the cow birds have brown heads (second photo left side, the females have medium brown bodies); and, the grackles have a purple sheen to their heads (last two photos).

Sorry, for the poor quality of the photos – need a larger lens and additional sunlight would help also.