Species › Birds › Yellow-headed Blackbird

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

CommonBird
Illustration of Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is one of North America's most dramatically colored birds — the males' brilliant golden-yellow head and breast contrasting with black wings is unmistakable. It displaces Red-winged Blackbirds from the best marsh territories. Its song is a harsh, grinding mechanical squeal quite unlike any other bird.

Habitat
Deep cattail marshes and adjacent fields of the western US and Great Plains
Diet
Insects in summer; grain and seeds in winter
How common
Common

Best time to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird

The best time to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird is April–June, when about 72% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 16,755 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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