Female Yellow-headed Blackbird on Curly Dock – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) have begun to show up in large numbers in my area of the country. I’m seeing them perched on Cattails, Phragmites and in flight. The freshwater marshes that surround the Great Salt Lake provide excellent breeding grounds for this species.
Female Yellow-headed Blackbirds are brown and have yellowish throats and facial patches. I photographed the female above perched on Curly Dock at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area on the last trip I made to Utah before permanently moving here.
Yellow-headed Blackbird male displaying – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Yellow-headed Blackbird males are black with white primary coverts and have yellow heads, chests and throats. They are easily identifiable and unmistakable. I photographed this displaying male above at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge.
The males are a challenge to expose properly in photographs because of the high contrast between the yellows, blacks and whites. I generally expose for the darks and hope I don’t blow out the white primary coverts if they are shown.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds have a very mechanical sounding call, it can be heard here.
Mia
The males are very striking in their plumage and behavior, but the female is good-looking too!
I agree Julie, the females are good looking too.
Wow, what beautiful birds, have never seen them, but I hear that they do reside near here. Wonderful post Mia, thanks for sharing.
Susan, I hope that you get to see and photograph some Yellow-headed Blackbirds too. They are far more beautiful in person. Thank you.
I agree with Karen, these are awesome shots. I do like the contrast of colors. We walk next to a marshy area near our house and have the pleasure of the Yellow-headed Blackbird’s company.
Sheila, thanks for your comment on my images. I’m glad you have the pleasure of Yellow-headed Blackbirds for company on your marsh walks.
One of my favorite marsh birds. I like the wing shot of the male. Beautiful shots as always, Mia.
Thank you for your wonderful comment on my images Scott.
Great shots, Mia. I am especially partial to the image of the Male. Gorgeous!
Yes Bob, that male is a stunner! Thank you.
I always enjoy visiting your outstanding blog because you feature so many birds I don’t have the chance to see here in the Midwest … your photographs are spectacular, too!
Thank you Julie, I love seeing your blog because you get to see birds that I don’t out here! Thank you for your kind words on my work.
Beautiful!!! Your work is inspiring, Mia!
Thank you so much Beverly.
Incidentally, I observed these for the first time, outside of captivity, just four days ago. However, I was already well familiar with their sounds, which are very remarkable and not avian. I would not have thought that what I had been hearing was a yellow-headed blackbird. The fact that they hide in marshes and reeds may account for their need to make such a raucous, as do many other aquatic birds. They congregate closely together, and up to 25 nests have been counted in an area of 15 sq. ft. Another impressive song from the Icteridae is the Western Meadowlark.
Hi Matthew, thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment. Aren’t Yellow-headed Blackbirds fascinating, especially their calls? I didn’t know that so many of them would nest so close together. That is amazing.
Mia, you have so many birds out west I don’t have here. It’s amazing the difference. I had actually never heard of a yellow headed blackbird. I listened to its song and wow it’s raspy. Love these images. So glad I found your blog. Carol
Carol, I’m very glad to have found your blog too. We do have some fascinating birds out west. Thank you.
Glorious photos Mia! I love these beautiful birds!
Thank you Linda, you are very kind.
Awesome shots Mia! Very beautiful birds! I got one shot, (not to great mind you) of a small flock of them when we were at Antelope Island State park back in late August. I didn’t even know that was what they were until I downloaded them on my computer and zoomed in! They zipped by so fast! We stopped by there for a couple of hours on our way to Yellowstone from Vegas! I would love to visit again for a longer amount of time! I saw birds I had never seen before!
Karen, I hope you get to visit this area again soon while the Yellow-headed Blackbirds are here in large numbers. Another great place to se them besides Antelope Island is Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. You should visit it too if you come back out this way.
Great pics! They are so pretty.
Thanks Judy, I agree they are so pretty.