Yellow-headed Blackbirds displace smaller Red-winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens from prime nesting spots in a marsh. Photo: Charles Wheeler/Audubon Photography Awards. Yellow-headed Blackbirds Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Because Yellow-headed Blackbirds are dom- if Yellow-headed Blackbirds recognize Marsh Wrens as a specific nest predator and respond aggressively to them; and (6) examine the role of the interactions between Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens in determining the pattern of their distribution in the marsh. The male helps feed nestlings, but usually only in the first nest established in his territory. Young leave nest after about 9-12 days, but remain among dense marsh plants until they are ready to fly, about 3 weeks after hatching. Typically nests in colonies in marshes, each male selecting territory within colony and defending it against rivals by singing. Yellow-heads nest in noisy colonies in big cattail marshes of the west and midwest; when not nesting, they gather in flocks in open fields, often with other blackbirds. Each bird gleans seeds from the ground, then leapfrogs over its flock mates to the front edge of the ever-advancing troupe. Bird Code: YHBL. Bill, legs and feet are black. Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us. Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats. They fledge within 9-12 days of hatching, and during their time in the nest, both parents feed them. Yellow-headed Blackbirds may visit feeders to eat seeds and grains, including sunflower seeds. Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) in Manitoba breed in dense colonies in cattail marshes. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. ... red-winged and yellow-headed blackbird . Sometimes catches insects in flight. Charles Wheeler/Audubon Photography Awards. They’re just as impressive in winter, when huge flocks seem to roll across farm fields. We protect birds and the places they need. Feeds on insects, larvae, snails, seeds, and grains. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Learn about their range, habitat, diet, life history, and more. In marshes east of the Cascades, Red-wings must share space with a larger cousin, the Yellow-headed Blackbird. A male yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) singing at Elizabeth Lake, British Columbia. Look for them in western and prairie wetlands, where they nest in reeds directly over the water. Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) in Manitoba breed in dense colonies in cattail marshes. Whenever a predator approaches, they take flight. 2021 Spotlight Bird -- Yellow-headed Blackbird. The female Yellow-headed blackbird lays 3-5 greenish-white eggs with dark marks. In 1825, a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, first described the Yellow-headed blackbird, a specimen of which had been collected by Sir John Richardson and Thomas Say in 1820. Pleistocene fossils of Yellow-headed Blackbirds (from 100,000 years ago) have been dug up in California, New Mexico, and Utah. When one Yellow-headed Blackbird is looking for food, it is not uncommon to see the other Yellow-headed Blackbirds fighting over their territory. Coming together quickly in a dense mass may confuse the predator and thwart its attempts to catch one of the … Yellow-headed Blackbird – Photo credit: Dan Casey Few birds have names descriptive of their appearance, but the Yellow-headed Blackbird is one that wears its name boldly. The Yellow-headed Blackbird is strongly aggressive toward Marsh Wrens too, probably because of the egg-destroying habits of the wrens. The female will generally incubate for 28 days at which time the ducklings will hatch and head to a nearby water source. Nest: Placed in marsh, firmly lashed to standing vegetation (cattails, bulrushes, reeds) growing in water, usually no more than 3' above water's surface. Yellow-headed Blackbird feeds on newly planted seed in agricultural fields, and is responsible for losses crops. We’ve got the recipe for one of Brenda Lowe’s scratch-made pies that have become a staple for successful birders in Ohio and beyond. Young are fed mostly insects. Strong direct flight on rapid wing beats. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Great Egret. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. 4, sometimes 3-5. - The Male Yellow-Headed Blackbird has a … Yellow-headed Blackbirds live in freshwater marshes. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Explore facts and photos about birds found in and around the United States. The female will seek out and area for nesting that is well concealed away from ground predators such as skunks and fox. Some males are always in display flight, with head stooped, feet and tail drooped, wings beating in a slow, accentuated way. Incubation lasts 11-13 days, and the chicks are altricial. Their reproductive success is affected mainly by predation. Now his ride has taken on even more meaning. Forages in low vegetation and on the ground. Zoologist and blackbird expert Gordon Orians writes: by Ella Sorensen In March, among the first sounds to break the stillness of winter in a Great Salt Lake marsh is the harsh rasping voice of the male Yellow-headed Blackbird. It also rules many of the prairie marshes it inhabits with an iron fist (or claw, as the case may be). We suggest that Yellow-headed Blackbirds are sensitive to nest predation risk and alter their behaviour accordingly to increase overall fitness, although future research is needed to evaluate the influence of Marsh Wren nest predation on the reproductive success of Yellowheaded Blackbirds. "Of 21 stomachs collected in June, only 4 failed to contain the weevil. The yellow-headed blackbird is a medium-sized species from the Icteridae family and the only member in the genus Xanthocephalus. It’s the least you can do. If the bulk of the birds are Red-winged Blackbirds or some other species, don’t despair—focus on finding a white wing patch or yellow head among the other species. Bald Eagle. Yellow-headed Blackbird: Medium-sized blackbird with black body, bright yellow hood and breast, and distinct white wing patches. Nest (built by female) is a bulky, deep cup woven of aquatic plants, lined with dry grass or with fine, dry marsh plants. Lives of North American Birds. June 13, 2009 The Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar denizen of cattail marshes throughout Washington. Click to … The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Feeds heavily on insects in summer, especially beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, also ants, wasps, and others, plus a few spiders and snails. Fresh marshes. Budd Titlow is a professional wetland scientist and wildlife biologist and an award-winning photographer. ... Yellow-headed Blackbird. The Yellow-headed blackbird is one of the colorful nesters of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 15 miles west of Brigham City, Utah, This brilliantly colored bird is ... the predator trapping period few magpies were caught, and the population seems to be down from years past, but the This bird has some predators, including gulls, coots and rails, snakes, minks, foxes, raccoons, mice and skunks. Troupials and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Icteridae). In spring, visiting a Yellow-headed Blackbird colony in a marsh or slough is an exciting experience. Pale gray to pale green, blotched and dotted with brown or gray. Illustration © David Allen Sibley. We sought to test this theory using the Yellow-headed Blackbird ( Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus ), a colony-nesting species, and the Marsh Wren ( Cistothorus palustris ), an aggressive nest predator. The Yellow-headed Blackbird often nests in the same marsh as the Red-winged Blackbird. Females make a chattering sound that may be considered a song. In the fall it is possible in some locations to see flocks with hundreds of thousands of birds gathered together. In the Midwest and West, look for Yellow-headed Blackbirds both in freshwater wetlands and in nearby farm fields. If you’re lucky and take the time to scrutinize over the individual birds in the flock, you may find an unexpected visitor such as yellow-headed blackbird, boat-tailed grackle or rusty blackbird. The yellow-headed blackbird is mentioned by La Rivers (1941) as one of the birds seen eating the Mormon cricket. Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. National Audubon Society Yellow-heads nest in noisy colonies in big cattail marshes of the west and midwest; when not nesting, they gather in flocks in open fields, often with other blackbirds. The male Yellow-headed Blackbird is impressive to see, but not to hear: it may have the worst song of any North American bird, a hoarse, harsh scraping. I find the yellow-headed blackbird to be … Adults are taken by hawks and many mammalian predators. These birds spend the night standing in Whitewater Draw’s shallow waters to evade predators, and then fly out each morning to feed and socialize in the surrounding area. Learn more about these drawings. Probably two-thirds of diet consists of seeds, including grass and weed seeds plus waste grain. It’s just a bunch of yellow-headed blackbird guys trying to make time with the local gals. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. - The Yellow-Headed Blackbird is considered a ground forager. Forages in fields, open country. Abstract. The male Yellow-headed Blackbird is impressive to see, but not to hear: it may have the worst song of any North American bird, a hoarse, harsh scraping. It also rules many of the prairie marshes it inhabits with an iron fist (or claw, as the case may be). Help power unparalleled conservation work for birds across the Americas, Stay informed on important news about birds and their habitats, Receive reduced or free admission across our network of centers and sanctuaries, Access a free guide of more than 800 species of North American birds, Discover the impacts of climate change on birds and their habitats, Learn more about the birds you love through audio clips, stunning photography, and in-depth text. For the first four days after birth, the … The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a beautiful marsh dweller. Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect this bird’s range in the future. This loud raucous cacophony lasts through spring and into the summer. Their nest predators include gulls, magpies, Common Grackles, American Bitterns, American Coot, Marsh Wrens, rails, bull snakes, garter snakes, blue racers, mink, red foxes, raccoons, deer mice, and striped skunks. But, as an insect eater, it may benefit humans by eating insects such as grasshoppers. The genus and the specific name of this species means ‘yellow-headed’, and … Migrates in flocks. Both species are common in their respective breeding ranges in … In 1825 Charles Lucien Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, gave the first detailed description of the Yellow-headed Blackbird, which was collected in 1820 by Thomas Say and Sir John Richardson. Acquaintance with yellow-heads, as they are commonly called, provides a visual treat, an audio surprise and an introduction to the world of the marsh. The two species don't share evenly. Spread the word. Interestingly, nest predators of the Yellow-headed Blackbird include bullying grackles and gulls, along with small but feisty Marsh Wrens (perhaps they are retaliating!) When the Yellow-headed Blackbird finishes breeding and leaves the marsh, Marsh Wrens expand into former blackbird territories. At some favored points in the southwest in winter, they When the Yellow-headed Blackbird finishes breeding and leaves the marsh, Marsh Wrens expand into former blackbird territories. He may attract up to eight females to nest within his area. 1 brood per year, possibly 2. The other females have to feed their young all by themselves. The male Yellow-headed Blackbird defends a small territory of prime nesting reeds. Or take action immediately with one of our current campaigns below: The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. The most important predator on blackbird nests is the Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), which breaks blackbird eggs and kills small nestlings. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards, Adult male. Yellow-headed blackbird. The surrounding water provides safety but often limits the nesting habitat; crowding is thus inevitable. Both parents feed nestlings. When searching in farm fields, look for large concentrations of blackbirds and then scan them carefully. Scientific Name: Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus. It had been banded in Saskatchewan and was found in Nebraska. With school out due to COVID-19, Scott Edwards decided to make a lifelong dream a reality. When yellow-headed blackbirds move out of their nesting area, marsh wrens will move back into the neighborhood. May follow farm machinery in fields to feed on insects and grubs turned up by the plow. Mostly insects and seeds. Strays reach Atlantic Coast, especially in fall. ... and harsh rattles given by males when predators are about. Marsh Wren density was negatively correlated with Yellow-headed Blackbird off-bout frequency during the morning (0500-1000), day (1000-1600), and evening (1600-2100), suggesting that Yellow-headed Blackbirds alter their At some favored points in the southwest in winter, they may be seen in flocks of thousands. Young: Both parents feed nestlings. This new funding represents a down payment on the needed $100 million annual investment. - The Yellow-Headed Blackbird has a growing population; therefore, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species does not consider the population a concern. Blackbirds, like this flock of Red-winged Blackbirds and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, feed on the ground. The oldest Yellow-headed Blackbird on record was at least 11 years, 8 months old. Song: A few musical notes followed by a screeching buzz, rather like a heavy door swinging on a very rusty metal hinge. Kaimbach (1914) records it as feeding on the alfalfa weevil. Mostly Seen: North America (Arizona, California, Colorado River Valley, San Joaquin Valley). Except in nesting season, usually forages in flocks, often associated with other blackbirds. Zoom in to see how this species’s current range will shift, expand, and contract under increased global temperatures. Males may tend to winter farther north than females, on average. Undoubtedly has declined in some areas with draining of marshes; however, still widespread and very common. Breeds in freshwater sloughs, marshy lake borders, tall cattails growing in water up to 3-4' deep. Cornell's All About Birds website has an interesting note in the species account of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, commenting that they seem to show a preference for nesting near Forster's Terns whenever possible. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. One male may have as many as 5 mates. Blackbird eggs and young, and occasionally the incubating females, are eaten by snakes, raccoons, foxes, and other predators. The larger Yellow-headed Blackbird is dominant to the Red-winged Blackbird, and displaces the smaller blackbird from the prime nesting spots. Yellow-headed Blackbirds are very territorial. The male Yellow-headed Blackbird defends a small territory of prime nesting reeds. Though they are striking in appearance, these birds spend a substantial time perched out of view in cattails or reeds, so listen for their harsh check calls and bizarre grinding, buzzing songs in order to pinpoint their location. According to Cornell, the yellow-headed also drives off marsh wrens, perhaps because these birds will eat eggs. The Yellow-headed Blackbird’s scientific name. Incubation is by female only, 11-13 days. Their reproductive success is affecte A female yellow-headed blackbird was seen from Portsmouth Avenue in Seabrook on Oct. 30, a male yellow-headed blackbird was seen from Hooksett Street in Seabrook on Oct. 31, and a … Because Yellow-headed Blackbirds always build their nests over the water, nestlings sometimes fall in and have to swim short distances to vegetation. Forages mostly by walking on the ground in open fields or near the water's edge; also forages low in marsh vegetation. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. They return to Whitewater Draw in the afternoon and evening. Birds Steal the Show in the New Netflix Film 'Penguin Bloom', Biden Halts Trump Rule That Gutted a Landmark Bird Protection Law, Advancing Arizona’s Groundwater Management to Protect Our Water Supply, How Researchers Hope to Save the Florida Scrub-Jay From an Inbreeding Crisis, The Tale of One Tiny Songbird Is Amplifying an Ancient Mayan Language, New Perils Threaten to Destroy an Embattled Desert Haven for Birds. Young leave nest after about 9-12 days, but remain among dense marsh plants until they are ready to fly, about 3 weeks after hatching. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. Forages around marshes and also commonly in open pastures, plowed fields, cattle pens, feedlots. Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from The song of the Yellow-headed blackbird, if it can be called a song as it lacks any musical quality, is a familiar sound in the marshes particularly of central and southeastern Oregon. 1 brood per year, possibly 2. 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