Although Red-winged Blackbirds can be found in our area year-round, they are most easily spotted during their breeding season by visiting cattail marshes and other wetlands, which is where they build their nests. The males are easy to identify as they have scarlet red and yellow patches on their shoulders (epaulets), however the females are streaked in brown and can easily be mistaken for sparrows. When not breeding these birds may gather at day’s end in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the millions.