Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Breeding Location:

Marshes, freshwater

Breeding Type:

Polygamous, Colonial

Breeding Population:

Egg Color:

Light gray or green with brown or gray markings

Number of Eggs:

3 - 5

Incubation Days:

11 - 13

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Wet marsh vegetation which shrinks when dry.

Migration:

Migratory

Overview

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Medium-sized blackbird with black body, bright yellow hood and breast, and distinct white wing patches. Bill, legs and feet are black. Forages in low vegetation and on the ground. Feeds on insects, larvae, snails, seeds, and grains. Strong direct flight on rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Breeds from central British Columbia, northern Alberta, and Wisconsin south to southern California, northern New Mexico, and Illinois. Spends winters in southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Nests in freshwater marshes; during migration and winter prefers open, cultivated lands, fields, and pastures.

Breeding and Nesting

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Three to five dark-marked, pale gray or green eggs are laid in a bulky, deep basket nest woven into emergent vegetation over water. Nest is made with wet vegetation, which tightens as it dries. Incubation ranges from 11 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Diet consists of beetles, weevils, grasshoppers, dragonflies, spiders, ants, and seeds of panic grass, ragweed, smartweed, and pigweed. Forages in low vegetation and on the ground; may hawk insects in the air.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn, Nut Meats, Suet, Millet

Vocalization

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Song is a series of low raspy notes that ends in a descending "buzz." Call is a hoarse "croak."

Similar Species

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Male is only North American bird with a yellow head and black body. Female is distinguished from other blackbirds by yellow throat and breast.

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Yellow-headed Blackbird

● Song: "croak"

● Foraging & Feeding: Yellow-headed Blackbird: Diet consists of beetles, weevils, grasshoppers, dragonflies, spiders, ants, and seeds of panic grass, ragweed, smartweed, and pigweed. Forages in low vegetation and on the ground; may hawk insects in the air.

● Breeding & nesting: Yellow-headed Blackbird: Three to five dark-marked, pale gray or green eggs are laid in a bulky, deep basket nest woven into emergent vegetation over water. Nest is made with wet vegetation, which tightens as it dries. Incubation ranges from 11 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Yellow-headed Blackbird: Male is only North American bird with a yellow head and black body. Female is distinguished from other blackbirds by yellow throat and breast.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Yellow-headed Blackbird Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Yellow-headed Blackbird: Breeds from central British Columbia, northern Alberta, and Wisconsin south to southern California, northern New Mexico, and Illinois. Spends winters in southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Nests in freshwater marshes; during migration and winter prefers open, cultivated lands, fields, and pastures.

^BreedingPolygamous, Colonial

^Population

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight2.8 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America