Yellow-Headed Blackbird
(Genus, species: Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
The Yellow-Headed Blackbird is an attractive resident
of marshy areas throughout Western North America -- particularly the
prairie regions. Unfortunately their 'song' doesn't match their
pretty feathers. Rather than a lovely trill, the blackbird lets
out a rather nasal squawking sound. Ahh well, at least they look
nice.
We were driving through Nanton, Alberta and saw a
large number of the birds sitting on top of cat tails in a large marshy
area (one of which is shown in the photo). Oddly enough they were
the only ones we spotted on our entire trip from Calgary to Cranbrook.
After a bit of research, we learned that they like large marshy areas --
the males are territorial, so the area must be large enough to host a
few of them (at least if you want to spot them). They tend to live
in loose colonies so require enough territory for at least a few males.
We also noticed that the red winged blackbirds that
usually dominate the ponds and fence posts near our home seemed to cower
every time their slightly larger yellow-headed cousins let out a
squawk.
While taking photographs, I was "swooped" by
one of the males (apparently I ventured a bit to close to his territory
so I quickly backed off). Yellow-headed blackbird males are very
territorial, though they usually only swoop at other birds that enter
their area (not soccer moms with cameras).
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Male Yellow Headed Blackbird
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
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Distribution/Location
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General:
Yellow-headed
blackbirds live in Western Canada and the United States in marshy
areas. They are particularly fond of cattail marshes. In
Canada and the Northern US, they migrate south during winter months (they're easy to find
from April to September, but don't stick around for our harsh winters).
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Description - male:
The yellow-headed blackbird is 8 to 12 inches long.
Bright yellow head and chest with the remainder black
(thus the name "yellow-headed" blackbird). Feet, legs,
eyes and beak are black. There is a streak of white on the wings,
that is most noticeable while in flight.
Description - female:
The female is much different than the male. The body is brown with
a yellow chest. There are hints of yellow on the face. The
beak and legs are dark grey to black. The females are quite a bit
smaller than the males and lack their white wingbars.
Description - young:
When immature, the birds are similar in coloring to the females.
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Female Yellow Headed Blackbird
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
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Feeding:
Diet consists of insects and seeds. Their marshy habitat has
an abundance of insect life.
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Habitat:
Cattail marshes, croplands and shoreland vegetation.
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Nesting:
Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed in colonies. Males
typically have 2 to 3 mates, though particularly energetic males
can have 5 or 6. Needless to say, the females do most of
the work raising the chicks.
The female builds the nest, which is a bulky,
open cup made of leaves, stems, and grass, and lashed to
cattails or other plants growing over the water. The
female uses wet vegetation to weave a nest which tightens and
strengthens as it drys. The female typically lays a
clutch
of 3 - 5 eggs each year which they incubate for 12 days.
The female provides most of the food for the
young, but the male may help feed the young of one of his mates.
The young leave the nest 9 to 12 days after hatching, but stay
nearby, close to the water, until they can fly, about 9 to 12
days later. The female feeds the young for a few days after they
fledge. Females typically raise one brood each season but may
raise two.
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| Enemies: The
main enemy of the Yellow-Headed Blackbird is the Marsh Wren
(surprisingly, it's a much smaller bird). The wren competes for
nesting space and will attack the blackbird's eggs and
young.
Crows and grackles also raid the nests to feed on the
eggs and young.
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Crow
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther |
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Yellow Headed Blackbirds in Flight in early September
(Alberta, Canada)
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
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Migration:
Migrate south to winter in the southern United States and Mexico.
Only found in Canada from April through September. They migrate
during the day in loose flocks. |
Worksheets and Other Activities:
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Yellow-Headed Blackbird Coloring
Page (from coloring.ws)
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"What I've learned about the Yellow-Headed Blackbird"
Coloring
Worksheet
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Help the Yellow-Headed Blackbird find the pond Maze
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How many words can you make from Yellow-Headed Blackbird Word
Worksheet
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