Yellow-headed Blackbird in December
Where yellow-headed blackbirds are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Yellow-headed Blackbird's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Yellow-headed Blackbird specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 30 states and provinces where yellow-headed blackbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where yellow-headed blackbirds are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- winter visitor
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, yellow-headed blackbirds are absent in the South, winter visitor across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Yellow-headed blackbirds are not nesting in December. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, yellow-headed blackbirds put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in December
- Waste grain and weed seeds
Nests in deep cattail marshes and feeds in nearby fields; flocks hit rural feeders in migration.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Yellow-headed Blackbird diet guide → · Best feeder for yellow-headed blackbirds →
Watching yellow-headed blackbirds this month
Yellow-headed blackbirds are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region yellow-headed blackbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Yellow-headed Blackbird month by month
Yellow-headed Blackbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are yellow-headed blackbirds in December?
In December, yellow-headed blackbirds are absent in the South, winter visitor across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do yellow-headed blackbirds nest in December?
No — yellow-headed blackbirds typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do yellow-headed blackbirds eat in December?
Waste grain and weed seeds.
Sources
- Yellow-headed Blackbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-headed Blackbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- 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.