Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Their song is famously unmusical, often described as sounding like a rusty gate hinge being forced open.
- Scientific name
- Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Icteridae › Xanthocephalus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater marshes and wetlands with tall emergent vegetation like cattails or bulrushes.
- Diet
- Insects, particularly aquatic larvae like dragonflies, and various seeds or grains.
- Range
- Western North America, Great Plains, Canadian Prairies, Mexico
- Size
- Length: 21-26 cm; Wingspan: 42-45 cm
- Lifespan
- 5 to 12 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, conversion of marshes to agriculture, and pesticide runoff reducing insect prey.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. Observe from a distance to avoid disturbing nesting sites in reed beds. If the bird dive-bombs or screeches loudly, you are too close to a nest; retreat slowly to a safe distance.
The yellow-headed blackbird ( Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus ) is a medium-sized blackbird, and the only member of the genus Xanthocephalus .
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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