Tricoloured blackbird

Description

The tricolor thrush ( Agelaius tricolor ),also known as tricolor turpial,is a bird with partially migratory habits belonging to the family of icterids,within the order of the passerines.Its range is limited to regions near the Pacific coasts in North America,from northern California and to a lesser extent Oregon and other western states in the United Statesto the northernmost areas of Baja California ( Mexico ).It exhibits a marked sexual dimorphism linked mainly to the coloration of the plumage,being the females predominantly brown and the males mostly black with a pair of red spots bordered by a white band on the wings.It is an extremely gregarious species and constitutes the terrestrial bird that forms the largest colonies in North America.Tricolor thrushes can live at least 13 years.4 5 6It is in danger of extinction due to the loss of its habitat and low reproductive success.Hunting,intoxication,predation and weather conditions have also been important mortality factors.Its population,estimated at 163,000 individuals by the year 2000,was greatly reduced during the 20th century.It inhabits swamps,highlands and agricultural land and feeds mainly on insects and grains.