A number of these unusual blackbirds have been reported over the years,
and the color pattern is fairly consistent. It would be interesting to
compare photos of the various birds to see just how similar they are.
And the East Bay marsh in Olympia seems to be a good place to look for
them - wasn't there one there about five years ago?

They remind me of big redstarts, I suppose because of the tail patches.
If we get to name them, maybe Red-winged Redstart-Blackbirds? Or
Painted Blackbirds?

Eric Kraig
Olympia, WA
mailto:kraige at oclc.org



> http://www.pbase.com/rodg/march

wow. is everyone sure this isn't a blackbird x oriole? if it's not male
redwings seem to have some remarkably oriole-like patterning underlying
their normally denser black. strange that at least traces of this
patterning
wouldn't show up in females.

phil