FWS Focus

Overview

The Tricolored Blackbird is a medium-sized (18-24cm total length), sexually dimorphic North American passerine (Beedy, Edward, and Hamilton III 1999). Adult males are typically larger than females, and are black with bright red and white plumage on the wing shoulder. Adult females have sooty brown-black plumage with distinct grayish streaks, a relatively white chin and throat, and a smaller reddish shoulder-patch. Banding studies indicate a lifespan of 12-13 years (DeHaven and Neff 1973, Kennard 1975).

Citations:

  • Beedy, Edward C. and William J. Hamilton III. 1999. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/423
  • Beedy, E. C. and W. J. Hamilton III. 1997. Tricolored Blackbird status update and management guidelines. September. (Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc. 97-099.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv., Portland, OR, and Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
  • Collier, G. 1968. Annual cycle and behavioral relationships in the Red-winged and Tricolored Blackbirds of southern California. Phd Thesis. Univ. of California, Los Angeles.
  • Dehaven, R. W. and J. A. Neff. 1973. Recoveries and returns of Tricolored Blackbirds, 1941-1964. West. Bird Bander 48:10-11.
  • Dehaven, R. W. 1975. Plumages of the Tricolored Blackbird. West. Bird Bander 50:59-61.
  • Emlen, J. T. 1941. An experimental analysis of the breeding cycle of the Tricolored Red-wing. Condor 43:209-219.
  • Kennard, J. H. 1975. Longevity records of North American birds. Bird-Banding 46:55-73.
  • Martin, A. C., H. S. Zim, and A. L. Nelson. 1951. American wildlife and plants: a guide to wildlife food habits. McGraw-Hill, New York.
  • Neff, J. A. 1942. Migration of the Tricolored Red-wing in central California. Condor 44:45-53.
  • Orians, G. H. 1960. Autumnal breeding in the Tricolored Blackbird. Auk. 77:379-398.
  • Orians, G. H. 1961b. Social stimulation within blackbird colonies. Condor 63:330-337.
  • Orians, G. H. 1985. Blackbirds of the Americas. Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle.
  • Payne, R. 1969. Breeding seasons and reproductive physiology of Tricolored Blackbirds and Redwinged Blackbirds. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 90:1-137.
  • Pyle, P. 1997. Identification guide to North American birds, Part I. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, CA.
  • Skorupa, J. P., R. L. Hothem, and R. W. DeHaven. 1980. Foods of breeding Tricolored Blackbirds in agricultural areas of Merced County, California. Condor 82:465-467.

Scientific Name

Agelaius tricolor
Common Name
Tricolored Blackbird
FWS Category
Birds
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

14 Items

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

NEPA - EIS

Permit

NEPA - EIS

NEPA - EIS

NEPA - EIS

Listing

Habitat Conservation Plan

Listing

Listing

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Listing

Dec 30, 1982

Dec 30, 1982 Listing
Review of Vertebrate Wildlife for Listing as End. or Thr. Species
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 1

Listing

Sep 18, 1985

Sep 18, 1985 Listing
Review of Vertebrate Wildlife; Notice of Review; 50 FR 37958-37967
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 2

Listing

Jan 6, 1989

Jan 6, 1989 Listing
ETWP; Animal Notice of Review; 54 FR 554 579
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 3

Listing

Nov 21, 1991

Nov 21, 1991 Listing
ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species; 56 FR 58804 58836
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 4

Listing

Nov 15, 1994

Nov 15, 1994 Listing
ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species.
  • Publication type: CNOR
Item 5

NEPA - EIS

Nov 4, 2002

Nov 4, 2002 NEPA - EIS
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior:Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 6

Permit

Nov 15, 2002

Nov 15, 2002 Permit
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Rec…
  • Publication type: Application Received
Item 7

NEPA - EIS

Jun 4, 2004

Jun 4, 2004 NEPA - EIS
Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for an Incident…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 8

NEPA - EIS

Mar 14, 2005

Mar 14, 2005 NEPA - EIS
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the North County Multiple Species Conservation…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 9

NEPA - EIS

Sep 2, 2005

Sep 2, 2005 NEPA - EIS
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Rec…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 10

Listing

Dec 5, 2006

Dec 5, 2006 Listing (Not Substantial)
90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Tricolored Blackbird as Threatened or Endangered
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 11

Habitat Conservation Plan

Nov 4, 2013

Nov 4, 2013 Habitat Conservation Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Habitat Conservation Plan for South Sacramento County, California
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 12

Listing

Sep 18, 2015

Sep 18, 2015 Listing (Substantial)
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings on 25 Petitions
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 13

Listing

Aug 15, 2019

Aug 15, 2019 Listing (Not Warranted)
12-Month Findings on Petitions To List Eight Species as Endangered or Threatened Species
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 14