General

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Medium-sized blackbird with black body, bright yellow hood and breast, and distinct white wing patches. Female and juvenile are mottled brown overall with dull yellow breast, throat and face, and white streaks extending down breast.

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.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"croak"

Interesting Facts

 Depending on the quality of his territory, a male Yellow-headed Blackbird may be able to acquire up to six mates. Males who acquire new territory do not destroy broods sired by the previous territorial male.

 They have one of the most unique bird calls. It has been described as a strange mixture of honking, gurgling and strangling noises.

 In winter, single-species flocks may form, sometimes consisting of all males or all females. Large foraging flocks move in a rolling fashion, birds from the back of the flock fly over the rest to the front.

 A group of blackbirds has many collective nouns, including a "cloud", "cluster", and "merl" of blackbirds.

Author

Gary Owen Dick