Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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BLACKBIRDS

Red-winged Blackbird  Agelaius phoeniceus

WINTER:  Uncommon to Common Resident.  Very Common to Very Abundant in some years.  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Abundant Resident.  See Remarks section.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Abundant Migrant from late February to late March.  Territorial males arrive in late February and early March.

 Fall:  Common Migrant from early September to mid-November (Edeburn et al. 1960, Hall 1983, Kiff et al. 1986).

REMARKS:

Singing Male Census (Koch 1971): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (1967): shallow pond-cattail marsh (elevation, 183 m): 5600 males/100 ha. (based on an intensive search of 8,250 sq. ft. of cattail marsh, resulting in 12 occupied nests).

Singing Male Census (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (1971): abandoned bottomland (elevation, 186 m): 33 males/100 ha.

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1969): 50 Stops, 12.25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 16. Total Birds: 88.

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch and Hurley 1972): Beech Fork Lake, Wayne Co., WV (29 May 1969): 50 Stops, 25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 15. Total Birds: 41.

Breeding Bird Survey (Bullard 2003): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co., WV (2002): 135 Stops (7 surveys), 64 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 3. Total Birds: 3.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on   62% of Counts.  Total Birds:  4,810.  Range:  1 to 2000.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 100% of Counts.  Total Birds:     464.  Range:  1 to     90.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on   98% of Counts.  Total Birds:  9,257.  Range:  1 to 1,472.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  1.6.  Party Hr./Bird:  1.6.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Birds/Party Hr.:  1.3.  Party Hr./Bird:  0.8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Birds/Party Hr.:  5.1.  Party Hr./Bird:  0.2.