Red-Winged Blackbirds Report your First Red-winged Blackbird to Journey North Just as northern marshes are thawing each spring, Red-winged blackbirds return to their nesting grounds. Within moments of their arrival, males display their brilliant red wing patches and sing their territorial songs. The females won't appear until about two weeks after the males, but you'll know when they've arrived. Watch for the males' territorial displays to intensify. (Females look completely different from males—more like large sparrows.) Help Track Red-Winged Blackbird Migration Song of the Red-winged Blackbird Wait for download; 130 K file. Recording Courtesy of Lang Elliott Listen to the song of the Red-winged blackbird. Listen over and over so you'll be sure to recognize it next spring. As soon as you see (or hear!) your first Red-winged blackbird of the spring, report your observations to Journey North. When the blackbirds arrive, see these field observations you can do with red-winged blackbirds. Red-winged Blackbirds on the Wintering Grounds? If you see Red-winged blackbirds overwintering in your region, please report your observation now. Red-winged blackbirds spend winter in the southern states of the U.S. Watch for Signs of Spring Look for news of your sightings of first earthworms, Red-winged blackbirds, frogs, emerging leaves, flowing sap, melting ice, and other spring events in "Signs of Spring" updates. Copyright 2002-2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form