Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

I have it from a good source (Jill at the North Pond Birdwalk) that the Red-winged Blackbird is the classic "newbie" bird. The males have beautiful bright red epaulets on their wings which excite the jejune aesthetic sensibilities of birding tenderfoots. Little do these ornithological neophytes know how common this blackbird is - indeed it may be the most studied wild bird in North America. Well, I say phooey to that cynical view. This is a pretty bird. Spotted below preening for the audience at Chicago's North Pond.