California · Summer breeder

Yellow-headed Blackbirds in California

When yellow-headed blackbirds are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Status in California: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5a–11a

When to expect yellow-headed blackbirds in California

Yellow-headed Blackbirds are summer residents in California, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Nesting in California

Across California, yellow-headed blackbirds typically nest from April–July. Plan around that window: March for setup, July for clean-out.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, rabbitbrush for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native California plants that attract yellow-headed blackbirds

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-headed blackbirds use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding yellow-headed blackbirds through the California year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet.
In California's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for yellow-headed blackbirds · Best feeder for yellow-headed blackbirds

Frequently asked

Are yellow-headed blackbirds in California year-round?

No. Yellow-headed Blackbirds are summer breeders in California and leave for the winter.

When do yellow-headed blackbirds nest in California?

Nesting in California typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.

What native plants attract yellow-headed blackbirds in California?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush are native plants in California that provide food or cover for yellow-headed blackbirds.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds in other regions

Other backyard birds in California

Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay California Scrub-Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Oak Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch California Towhee Spotted Towhee Gambel's Quail California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Acorn Woodpecker Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Nuttall's Woodpecker Cactus Wren Verdin Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Hooded Oriole Phainopepla Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee California Thrasher Clark's Nutcracker Yellow-billed Magpie Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Vermilion Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak Cactus Wren Greater Roadrunner Yellow-billed Cuckoo Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.