If you’re looking to spot Red-winged Blackbirds, keep an eye on the calendar. During their breeding season in spring and summer, marshlands and sloughs are a good bet. The species prefers dense stands of plants like cattails, sedges, and reeds, and is readily found around lakeshores, riverbanks, and ponds. But in late fall and winter, take to the countryside: They’re more likely to be moving by flock in an open field, potentially mixed with other blackbirds or starlings.