redwing

Redwing is a common name applied to several bird species notable for red on their wings or in their plumage. The two best-known are the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) of North America and the redwing (Turdus iliacus), a thrush native to Europe and Asia. The term may also refer to other birds with red-wing features in different regions.

The red-winged blackbird is a large passerine in the family Icteridae. Males are strikingly black with bright red shoulder patches bordered by a yellow margin, while females are brown and heavily streaked. They inhabit wetlands, marshes, fields, and edges where tall vegetation provides nesting sites. Red-winged blackbirds are typically territorial during the breeding season and form large flocks outside it. Their diet includes seeds, grains, and insects, shifting with seasonal availability. They are widespread across much of North America and are generally not endangered, though local populations can fluctuate with habitat changes.

The redwing is a small thrush in the family Turdidae, found across boreal and temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is migratory, spending winters in milder areas such as southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of western Asia. Redwings have brown upperparts and paler underparts, with distinctive reddish tones on parts of the wings or flank that give the species its name. They favor woodlands, brushy areas, and cultivated grounds, feeding on a diet of invertebrates and berries. While not typically endangered, they face pressures from habitat loss and harsh winters in some parts of their range.

In taxonomy or literature, redwing can thus refer to either species, depending on geographic context.