A few male Red-Winged Blackbirds are back, fighting over real estate options.
Image from prior year
The females apparently are waiting for the males to stake out and hold a territory before flying in and setting up house. The females are much smaller and look like gussied-up sparrows.
Image from prior year
The males and females make a very odd couple, but they share an aggressive attitude when it comes to protecting their homestead.
Images from prior year
(Brooklin, Maine)