Red-shouldered Blackbirds

Icterids

The Red-shouldered Blackbirds (Agelaius assimilis) is endemic to Cuba, where it inhabits swamps and marshes.

Sub-species & Georgraphic Range:

• Agelaius assimilis assimilis : Western Cuba
• Agelaius assimilis subniger: Isle of Pines

Description:

The male can be identified by his mostly black plumage with distinctive orange-red shoulder patches with pale yellow trims.  The female has a brownish plumage without the shoulder patches.

Similar Birds:

• The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird has yellow-orange shoulders, though the shoulder patches are sometimes only visible in flight.
• The Shiny Cowbird has a glossy plumage without the shoulder patches.  The bill is shorter and stouter than that of the Red-shouldered Blackbird.

Vocalizations:

 Their calls are described as a “chut” or “chut-chut” and their song as a shrill “Shuh-reee-eee.”

Global Names:

• English: Red-shouldered Blackbird
• Catalan: sergent de Cuba
• Czech: vlhovec červenoramenný
• Danish: Rødskuldret Stærling
• German:  Rotschulterstärling
• Spanish:  Sargento Cubano
• Spanish (Spain):  Sargento Cubano
• Finnish:  kuubanturpiaali
• French:  Carouge de Cuba
• Croatian:  crvenokrili vranjak
• Italian:  Ittero spallerosse
• Japanese: akakatahagoromogarasu / アカカタハゴロモガラス
• Lithuanian: Kubinis juodasis trupialas
• Dutch: Roodschoudertroepiaal
• Norwegian:  Eldvengtrupial / Ildvingetrupial
• Polish: epoletnik kubański
• Portuguese:  graúna-de-ombros-vermelhos
• Russian: Краснокрылый трупиал
• Slovak: vlhovec kubánsky
• Serbian: Američki kos crvenih ramena
• Swedish:  zapatatrupial
• Ukrainian: Еполетник кубинський
• Chinese: 红肩黑鹂 / 紅肩黑鸝

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