Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus |
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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. | |
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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. |
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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. | |