Yellow-headed Blackbird - Ross Feldner A perfect match to its name, this striking bird is often found in the same marsh as the Red-winged Blackbird, displacing the smaller blackbird from sought after nesting sites. Yellow-headed Blackbirds migrate in huge flocks usually with other species of birds. Some winter flocks are estimated to be in the millions and made up of a mix of different blackbird species as well as similar birds, like European starlings. During migration, males and females travel separately with the males typically arriving at the breeding grounds 2-3 weeks before the females. They breed in marshes across North America preferring plants such as cattails, bulrushes and reeds. They feed on seeds for most of the year and insects in the summer months foraging in fields and marshes, sometimes catching insects in flight. The Yellow-headed Blackbird's song resembles the grating of a rusty hinge with two variations, one in a much higher pitch. Because Yellow-headed Blackbirds typically reside in wetlands, their population numbers depend on the conditions of the wetlands. Threats include drainage projects, herbicides/pesticides, and other crop protection methods. These have enormous impacts on the health of wetlands, and consequently, cause blackbird population numbers to fluctuate. Yellow-headed Blackbird numbers are currently stable and likely to remain that way in the long term. | |
