March 14, 2025: Red-winged Blackbirds arrive in Falmouth by early March, signaling spring’s return. Their bold calls and territorial displays mark the start of breeding season, heralding the arrival of other migratory birds. This blackbird was recently seen at Peterson Farm off of Woods Hole Road.

The late winter arrival of Red-winged Blackbirds to Falmouth is a much-anticipated event among birders and nature enthusiasts. These birds, among the first migratory songbirds to return, typically begin appearing in late February or early March, even when winter still lingers in the landscape. Males are the first to arrive, their striking black plumage and red-and-yellow shoulder patches (epaulets) standing out against the subdued tones of the season. They establish territories in marshes, wetlands, and along the edges of ponds, perching high and singing their distinctive “conk-la-ree” song, a definitive herald of spring’s approach.

Their return is particularly significant because it signals the beginning of a larger movement of breeding birds back to Cape Cod. Soon after, other early migrants, such as Common Grackles and Eastern Phoebes, follow suit. The arrival of Red-winged Blackbirds also coincides with the lengthening daylight hours, an important environmental cue for the start of the breeding season.

By mid-March, as the weather gradually warms, females arrive and begin selecting nesting sites in dense reeds and cattails. Their presence and courtship activity mark the transition from winter’s quiet dormancy to the dynamic renewal of life in Falmouth’s coastal and inland wetlands. For many birders, the sound of a Red-winged Blackbird’s call on a cold March morning is one of the first joyful signs that spring is on its way.