The Tricolored Blackbird (
Agelaius tricolor
), a bird of conservation concern, is nearly endemic to the state of California. More than 95 percent of the world's population resides in California, with additional small numbers of birds in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Baja California, Mexico. The males of these very social songbirds are mostly glossy black, with a bright red shoulder patch and a prominent white wing bar beneath. These features distinguish the male Tricolored Blackbird from its much more widespread and abundant relative, the Red-winged Blackbird, which is not colonial, lacks the Tricolored Blackbird's glossy plumage, and has an orange-red shoulder patch with a dull yellow wing bar.
Formerly most abundant in coastal marshes, the Tricolored Blackbird's freshwater marsh breeding habitats have been reduced by conversion to agriculture and urban spaces. Currently, the bird's largest breeding colonies are located in agricultural areas, and the harvest of grains often conflicts with breeding activities. The production of entire breeding efforts can be lost if the crops are harvested before the young are able to fly. Programs that provide funding to some affected landowners to delay harvest are in place, but longer-term strategies are needed to conserve the species.
The Tricolored Blackbird was selected in 2005 as a focal species under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Focal Species Strategy as a result of severe population declines, habitat loss, and species vulnerability. This species represents one of 139 focal species identified in the strategy, for which conservation planning and implementation will be undertaken to bring their populations to healthy or sustainable levels.
As part of the strategy, the voluntary-based Tricolored Blackbird Working Group was formed to guide conservation of the species, with representatives from state and federal agencies and landowners.
In partnership with the Tricolored Blackbird Working Group, the USFWS, and the University of California-Davis, the NBII provides support for development of the Tricolored Blackbird Portal, a source for data and information about the Tricolored Blackbird. This Portal helps meet the goals set out in the Data Storage and Management section of the conservation plan. Also, visit the CAIN Tricolored Blackbird page for more information about this focal bird species.
Click here to visit the Tricolored Blackbird Portal.