by DJ Featherton

Have you ever seen a Yellow-headed Blackbird? Well, I hadn’t either. Even as an experienced birder, I had to be shown these cool birds and where to find them. I couldn’t believe it, and they were right under my nose all the time! These blackbirds are larger than most and sport a fabulous yellow head and throat. In flight you will see a flash of white within his black wings. They have a large head, big bill, and long tail. Females and immatures are more brown and their yellow is less bright. These are handsome birds!

The reason they’re not common to see is because they nest together in the low crotches of cattails and reeds over the water. They are loud and active and demand attention. An interested birder will frequently hear their loud “rusty gate” call before seeing them in a marsh or at water’s edge. Although the yellow-head shares their wetland nesting environment with the smaller red-winged blackbird, he is dominant and will aggressively remove any red-wing that tries to nest in prime areas around his nests. This bird owns his territory and protects it! He is also very aggressive toward the marsh wren that likes to steal the eggs when possible. I guess I’d be aggressive, too! The tip here is when scanning the reeds and cattails and all you see is red wings, don’t give up. They’re out there.

Yellow-headed blackbirds territory includes western Canada and most of the midwestern and western states. Their migratory range takes them to the Gulf and through Mexico. They will migrate in large flocks and can be seen eating seeds on the ground in fields. This can be a spectacle as huge flocks seem to roll across farm fields, each bird finding his seeds, then hopping over his flock mates to advance for more. Very odd, but quite efficient. Even through the winter months away from the wetlands yellow-heads are elusive even in the trees along the fields. Keep your eye on any flock of blackbirds, but look for bright yellow heads, and listen for the loud rusty gate. They’re there.

The first yellow-headed blackbirds I saw were in town and in cattails along a riverbank behind a small shopping area. I was shown this spot by another birder and returned many times. If you have good birder friends, you may want to ask them if they have ever seen a yellow-headed blackbird. Good luck! I love birding. I’ll see ya out there!