New World Blackbirds, Troupials, and Allies
Tricolored Blackbird
Agelaius tricolor
- Family
- New World Blackbirds, Troupials, and Allies (Icteridae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae. Its range is limited to the coastal areas of the Pacific coast of North America, from Northern California in the U.S. (with occasional strays into Oregon), to upper Baja California in Mexico.
This highly social and gregarious bird forms the largest colonies of any North American landbird, with a single breeding colony often consisting of tens of thousands of birds.
The common name is taken from the male bird's distinctive white stripes underneath their red shoulder patches, or "epaulets", which are visible when the bird is flying or displaying.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Marshes and farmlands of southwestern Oregon to northwestern Baja California.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Continents
Countries
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Tricolored blackbird
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.