Agelaius
Appearance
American blackbirds | |
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Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | |
Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Agelaius Vieillot, 1816
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Species | |
see text |
American blackbirds are birds belonging to the genus Agelaius in the New World family Icteridae.
This genus includes 11 species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. The males are typically black with some colorful patches, such as on the shoulders or head. Females are drab and somewhat resemble American sparrows.
The genus Agelaius contains:
- Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Xanthospar (Agelaius) flavus
- Yellow-winged Blackbird, Agelaius thilius
- Pale-eyed Blackbird, Agelaius xanthophthalmus
- Unicolored Blackbird, Agelaius cyanopus
- Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
- Red-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius assimilis
- Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor
- Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Chrysomus (Agelaius) icterocephalus
- Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius humeralis
- Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius xanthomus
- Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Agelaius ruficapillus