Loading...
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) breeds in marshy habitats across much of the western United States. It shows up as a visitor to many areas of the eastern U.S., and may sometimes be seen in huge numbers during migration. Its song, a prolonged, unmusical cackle, is a familiar sound during the spring and summer at many marshes in the west. The species generally winters in Mexico. The first two images on this page were taken with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 600mm F/4 L lens and 1.4X extender on Fuji Velvia in June, 2001, at Benton Lake N.W.R., Cascade Co., Montana.

 

 

 

The shot here was taken with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 600mm F/4 L lens and 1.4X extender on Fuji Velvia in June, 2001, at Bear River N.W.R., Box Elder Co., Utah.

The image on the right was taken with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 600mm F/4 L lens and 1.4X extender on Fuji Velvia in June, 2001, at Bowdoin N.W.R., Phillips Co., Montana.

The shot on the right was taken with the same film and equipment at Ouray N.W.R., Uintah Co., Utah, also in June, 2001.
The shot here shows a large mixed flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds flying over a group of Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico in December, 1999.
This image, showing a little of the marshy habitat of this species, was taken with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 600mm F/4 L lens and 1.4X extender on Fuji Velvia in June, 2001, at Medicine Lake N.W.R., Sheridan Co., Montana.
The next six shots were taken at Bear River N.W.R., Box Elder Co., Utah, in June, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender. Male Yellow-headed Blackbirds often shake their heads back and forth slowly as they call and assume some unusual postures. I love watching these loud and raucous birds go through their contortions when they "sing".
Like the previous images, the male Yellow-headed Blackbird in the next two shots has his own particular method of displaying while singing.
Next will be several different shots of female Yellow-headed Blackbirds. All these were also taken at Bear River.
 
 
The next three images are of other males.
 
A female Yellow-headed Blackbird at Bear River grips the reeds to maintain her perch.
The next two shots show close-up detail of the head of a male Yellow-headed Blackbird at Benton Lake N.W.R., Cascade Co., Montana, in June, 2007.
 
The female Yellow-headed Blackbird on the right was a spring migrant in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2008. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4 X extender.