Red-winged blackbird "swooping" season is upon us...

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Red-winged blackbirds do not mess around. Anybody who gets too close to their nest finds out the hard way. I know I have. That they swoop and peck at people's heads, at anybody who is considered to be a perceived threat.

[00:00:12]>> Red-winged blackbirds are known to be quite aggressive. They will harass and mob and chase other birds much larger than themselves and even things that aren't really a threat, but are just large and but slow-moving things like tractors or cows or horses and of course humans.

[00:00:31]>> These birds are easy to spot with their black body and red and yellow accents on their wings, but they can also be identified by their fiercely protective nature. The males do most of the attacking defending their mates and babies. Although it might feel like it, these birds are not out to get you.

[00:00:45]Goldberg says that they're just protecting their young against what they see as a threat. So if one of these nests happens to be along your route, wearing a bike helmet can be a good way to protect yourself against their sharp beaks. But if you don't want to do that, making sure to give those nests a wide berth or picking an entirely alternative route can also be some good options for