Red Winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus.

living along the Salinas River. The Red Wing Black bird is one of the most common birds in North America frequenting dense cover new a water source such as a river or pond.
Seeds are consumed during the winter, insects during spring and summer. when they are paired off.  In winter they group together with other black birds and PARTY! Their range is extensive ranging from below sea level to 9000 ft(2800 meters). They are not picky eaters, a seed is a seed to them.
Red Wing Blackbirds are not picky about food and are wide ranging  foragers, but they wash regularly and require water to digest the seeds. (Some animals can make water from their diet, Agelaius phoeniceus cannot.)