Tricolored Blackbird
Agelaius tricolor
Synopsis:
Breeds locally in dense colonies, although irregularly at some sites.
Most nesting has been in the Klamath Basin, and
in the Rogue Valley since 1958. The Portland site has been inhabited by a
handful of birds since 1967. The Barnes Butte site in
Crook County was discovered by an atlas project participant, as was the
Painted Reservoir site, the locations in southern Lake
County, and some of those in the Columbia Basin. This species bred in
Washington State for the first time in the late 1990's. Most
notable are the records from Lake, Crook, Wheeler, Gilliam, Morrow, and
southern Umatilla Counties.
Habitat Associations:
some
Lake/Pond Shoreline & Islands (94572 acres)
lesser
Edges of Cropland/Pasture/Orchard (682171 acres)
Relative Detectability:
Fairly easy to detect by sight and song, and to confirm
breeding.
Challenge:
Carefully examine groups of nesting Red-wings for groups of this
species.