Male Red-winged Blackbird Singing On A Sign

Singing male Red-winged Blackbird on a refuge sign – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Just a simple post this morning of a male Red-winged Blackbird singing on a sign next to the road from my recent trip up to Bear River MBR. When I spotted this male blackbird he was on the wrong side of the road for me to easily photograph him. I quickly turned my Jeep around and circled back to where he stood perched on the sign.

The male blackbird looked gorgeous in the morning light. I knew that I would be able to capture all of the fine details in his dark plumage with my camera. His brilliantly colored red and orange epaulets were eye-catching too. The blackbird was displaying and singing his heart out and I wasn’t going to pass by him just because he was perched on an old, worn out refuge sign.

Singing male Red-winged Blackbird perched on a sign – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I wasn’t in a rush so I decided that I’d photograph the male blackbird until he flew off. I took two hundred thirty-four images of the singing male Red-winged Blackbird in the two minutes I had with him.  I listened to his song. I watched how he moved his body, flicked his tail and flashed his wings. I learned from him. I don’t regret spending time with this male Red-winged Blackbird or the number of images that I took while he sang and displayed.

When the male blackbird took off and flew across the water I was glad that I had him in my viewfinder for as long as I did.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.