Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a large, striking marsh bird easily identified by its bright yellow head and breast contrasting sharply with glossy black body plumage and a bold white wing patch.
- Feather type
- Glossy black body plumage with a bright yellow head and breast
- Colours
- Black body, bright yellow head and breast, white wing patch
- Bird size
- Medium-large blackbird, ~22-27 cm
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Overview
Overview
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is one of the most boldly patterned marsh birds in North America, with males showing a brilliant yellow head and breast set against jet-black body plumage. It breeds in dense marsh vegetation across the western and central United States and Canada and winters mainly in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
- Larger and more boldly colored than most other blackbirds
- Forms large breeding colonies in cattail marshes
- Males display a bold white wing patch visible in flight
Identifying the Feather
Feather Identification
Yellow-headed Blackbird feathers show extreme contrast in adult males.
- Head and breast feathers (male): Bright golden-yellow, sharply demarcated from the black body
- Wing feathers (male): Black with a bold white patch on the primary coverts, conspicuous in flight
- Body feathers (male): Glossy black overall
- Female feathers: Duller brownish overall with a less extensive dusky-yellow wash on the head and breast, lacking the male's bold white wing patch
- The combination of bright yellow head feathers and a bold white wing patch is diagnostic for adult male feathers of this species
Plumage & Molt
Plumage, Sex & Age Differences
Adult males show a brilliant yellow head and breast, black body, and a bold white wing patch. Females are considerably duller, brownish overall with a muted yellow wash on the face and breast and no white wing patch. Juveniles resemble females but are even duller. A complete molt occurs after breeding.
Habitat & Range
Habitat & Range
Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed in freshwater marshes with dense stands of cattails or bulrushes across the western and central United States and Canada. The species is migratory, wintering mainly in Mexico and the southwestern United States, often in agricultural fields and open habitats away from marshes.
Behavior & Field Notes
Behavior, Voice & Field Notes
Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed in colonies within marsh vegetation, with males defending prime territories and often paired with multiple females. They forage on the ground and in marsh vegetation for insects and seeds. Their voice is a harsh, grating, mechanical-sounding call, quite different from the more musical songs of many other blackbirds.
Frequently asked questions
What feather feature identifies a male Yellow-headed Blackbird?
A bright yellow head and breast combined with a bold white wing patch on an otherwise black body.
Do female Yellow-headed Blackbirds have the same bold coloring as males?
No, females are duller brownish overall with only a muted yellow wash and no white wing patch.
Where do Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed?
In freshwater marshes with dense cattails or bulrushes across the western and central United States and Canada.
Are Yellow-headed Blackbirds migratory?
Yes, they winter mainly in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Yellow-headed Blackbird guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Yellow-headed Blackbird.
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