Yellow-headed Blackbird

24 cm (9-10") Common. Western and central North America. Fresh marshes, reedy lakes. Feeds in grainfields, open country.

Male: distinctive bright yellow head and breast contrasts with black body. Wing has white patch.

Female: dusky brown bird. Eyebrow, lower cheek, and throat are yellow or buffy-yellow. Unstreaked yellow breast. Lower breast or belly is streaked white. Lacks the wing patch of the male.

Gregarious.

Song: harsh rasping note followed by long descending buzz; hoarse "croak" call.

Videos

Images

Credit: Rick Leche

Credit: Mark Watson

Credit: Eugene Beckes

Credit: Cathy Andersen

Credit: Laura Gooch

Credit: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Credit: Larry Bond

Distribution Maps

Yellow-headed Blackbird distribution map

Yellow-headed Blackbird winter distribution map