male; glossy black body (California, USA; 2006-08-05)
Tricolored lackbird Agelaius tricolor
Native Range: North America
Notes:
both sexes similar in appearance to Red-winged Blackbird but male with white (rather than yellow) bordering the red shoulder patch; nests in reedy marshes; confined mostly to California; forms large flocks in winter.
white behind red shoulder epaulet (California, USA; 2008-07-12)
sometimes only the white shows (California, USA; 2007-05-06)
note quite thin pointed bill (California, USA; 2008-07-12)
sometimes the white is mostly hidden (California, USA; 2008-07-12)