Tricolored Blackbird in La Plata County unlikely

[Norm Erthal]

A Tricolored blackbird was reported in La Plata County on ebird. The reason this is unlikely is if indeed one showed up in Colorado it would be highly unlikely for it to show up with returning red-winged blackbirds. They are basically sedentary populations. If one were to arrive here it would be much more likely for it to be a post breeding wanderer than moving with normal migrating red-wings. Red-winged blackbirds can regularly have white edged epaulets. Without a recording from a singing bird, the id would be difficult to prove.

Norm Erthal