Female Yellow-headed Blackbird about to sing – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had a wonderful and relaxing morning at Bear River MBR yesterday and took photos of a female Yellow-headed Blackbird singing on the marsh not long after sunrise.
Yes, female Yellow-headed Blackbirds sing.
Female Yellow-headed Blackbirds have one song. Yesterday was the first time I have photographed a female singing and it delighted me to hear and see her singing. Much attention is paid to the vocal array of males of this species but the females, not so much.
Singing female Yellow-headed Blackbird – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This singing Yellow-headed Blackbird was not in the best of light. I made do with the light I had. I found it interesting that the female blackbird displayed a similar posture that I have seen countless times from males, the Song Spread, although her posture was less flamboyant than what I have seen from the males. Her song had similar “squeaky gate” notes to it that we hear from males. It is almost hard to call those notes songs.
The sun was up, the sky was clear and spring was definitely in the air at the refuge yesterday morning. I saw my first of the year Long-billed Curlews, Black-necked Stilts and several Tree Swallows on the wing. Almost all of the swans have left for their breeding grounds, I only saw four of them yesterday. The birds on the marsh were singing and calling which was a delight to hear.
I found what I needed yesterday morning at the refuge. Birds. Peace. Nature. Plus I took my own sweet time and soaked it all in.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow-headed Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
It sounds like a truly wonderful day – thank you for sharing some of the beauty and joy.
Wonderful photos. I did not know this was a female. I have seen and have photos of them singing. I thought perhaps they were a first year male, not completely yellow and still learning their song. I have other photos of birds I thought the female, I will have to look for the photos and compare.
My goodness, that display makes the female appear almost ghoulish! Very interesting info and observations.