
Aptly named, adult males are black with yellow head and breast, black lores, and white wing coverts that are especially obvious in flight. Immature males are duller overall, brownish black with a dusky yellow head. Females have a brown body with muted yellow head and lack white in the wings.
Length: 24 (cm) Wingspan: 38 (cm)
Voice:
Clanking, grinding, buzzing notes, gurgles, and whistles.
Habitat:
Wetlands, reeds, cattails, and associated open areas; prefers to nest in deeper marshes than other blackbirds, choosing nest sites closer to open water.
Behavior:
Male flares white wing patches and throws head skyward while singing. Breeds colonially; cup nest is woven to reed stems above water. Sometimes flocks with other blackbirds in winter.
Feeding:
Gleans foliage and forages on the ground; eats insects and seeds. Sometimes visits bird feeders.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
05/22/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/08/15 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/25/15 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
05/12/15 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
03/10/15 | Marlowe Kissinger, OR | 3 |
05/16/14 | Julia Richert, OR | 50 |
05/23/14 | Dave Irons, OR | 80 |
05/12/10 | Chelsea Bassanese, BC | 1 |
06/29/13 | Nina Bohn | # |
06/29/13 | Dave Irons, OR | # |
06/22/13 | Dave Irons, OR | # |
05/30/13 | dawn villaescusa, OR | # |
05/30/13 | dawn villaescusa, OR | # |
05/29/13 | dawn villaescusa, OR | # |
05/28/13 | dawn villaescusa, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Steven Mauvais added Yellow-headed Blackbird to their Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge smart list | 5/12/2015 at 3:00PM |
Jacob Parks added Yellow-headed Blackbird to their Vanport Wetlands smart list | 11/02/2011 at 12:48AM |
Dan Mitchell added Yellow-headed Blackbird to their Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge smart list | 9/16/2011 at 7:14PM |