What animals eat rd winged blackbirds?

Answer 1

Virtually all of North America's raptors take adult or young Red-winged Blackbirds, even Barn Owls, which usually only take small mammals, and Northern Saw-whet Owls which are scarcely larger than a male Red-winged. Accipiter hawks are among their most prolific predators and, locally, they are one of the preferred prey species of Short-tailed Hawks. Crows, ravens, magpies and heronsare occasionally predators of blackbird nests. Additional predators of blackbirds of all ages and their eggs include raccoons, mink,foxes and snakes, especially the rat snake. Marsh wrens compete with the blackbird and eat their eggs opportunistically.

The Red-winged Blackbird aggressively defends its territory from other animals. It will attack much larger birds. Males have been known to swoop humans who encroach upon their nesting territory during breeding season.