For Future Reference

Abstract

Photo of a female Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) denying food to her fledgling. Parental Tricolors stop provisioning nestlings at some colonies and lure the fledglings to sites away from the colony, then resume provisioning. These creches, up to five or more kilometers from colonies may give the false impression that they are nesting sites. Creches may account for all reports of Tricolors nesting in spineless or otherwise unarmored vegetation not over water. Oleanders, California walnuts (Juglans californica) and many other shrubby plants are bases for creches but not nests.