Black birds can be found all over the country in many different environments. Here's some good info to know about black birds.

How do I know if a bird is a black bird?

Unlike other birds that are a little more non-descript and less common, black birds are bold and they're everywhere. Depending on where you live, you could probably walk outside right now and find a black bird just hanging out near your house. Black birds live in marsh areas, mountains, forested area and prairie land, which pretty much covers all of the topography in the United States.

When you see black birds from a distance they usually just appear black, although some species of black birds have some coloring. Black birds are smaller than crows and ravens and they're not always completely black. The red-winged black bird, for example, has red coloring on its shoulders.

Males sport the color

Sorry ladies. In many bird species, the males are the more attractive bird. The biological reason for this is so the male bird can better attract females. Birds see in color so when a male has colorful marking like the red-winged black bird does, he stands out to other female birds. Color helps male black birds find mates and perpetuate the species.

Many female black birds aren't actually black, though they look it from a distance. If you got really close to some female black birds, you would see that they're actually dark brown. A female red-winged black bird will have a pinkish or red tint on her wings or throat. Although she does have some color, her colors will be much more muted than the male's colors.

Black bird facts

Like many birds, black birds have a very diverse diet. They'll eat seeds, insects and fruit. They love seed and leftover field grain, which can be irritating to farmers who do not want black birds in their fields. The scarecrow was actually created to keep black birds out of fields and away from freshly planted seeds.

Black birds are social animals and will nest and live in large colonies. They nest in tall grasses, trees and bushes and where you find one black bird, you're likely to find at least 20 more. A colony of black birds works to protect all nests from predators and humans. Black birds make different noises, or calls, and use their calls to warn others in the colony of approaching danger.