Perch Supply
Blackbirds (Icteridae)

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Insects in summer; grain and seeds the rest of the year.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Scientific name
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Length
8.3–10.2 in
Weight
1.6–3.5 oz
Nest
Woven basket lashed to cattails over water
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–6 eggs
Incubation
11–13 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Male black with a brilliant yellow head and white wing patch
  • Female brown with a dull yellow throat
  • Heavy pointed bill

Voice

A grating, mechanical buzz like a rusty hinge.

Diet and feeding

Insects in summer; grain and seeds the rest of the year.

What do yellow-headed blackbirds eat? · Best feeder for yellow-headed blackbirds

Yellow-headed Blackbirds by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArizonaWinter visitor—
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
CaliforniaSummer breederApril–July
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
NevadaSummer breederMay–July
New MexicoWinter visitor—
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
OregonSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TexasWinter visitor—
UtahSummer breederMay–July
WashingtonSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July
WyomingSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do yellow-headed blackbirds eat?

Insects in summer; grain and seeds the rest of the year. At feeders: cracked corn, millet, black-oil sunflower.

How big is a Yellow-headed Blackbird?

8.3–10.2 in long and 1.6–3.5 oz.

Do yellow-headed blackbirds use birdhouses?

No. Woven basket lashed to cattails over water.

Sources

  1. Yellow-headed Blackbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Yellow-headed Blackbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Yellow-headed Blackbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.