Yellow-headed blackbirds

There is just something about brightly coloured birds that causes our pulses to quicken.  A jetting bolt of yellow thrusting through the air causes one to take notice.  With a bold yellow head and chest contrasting with a jet-black body, the yellow-headed blackbird is a stunning sight.

Yellow-headed blackbird males are polygamists; they protect a territory within which up to eight females build nests and rear young.  The nests and territory are above reed beds that exist in deeper freshwater areas.  Towards the shoreline, where the water becomes shallow, red-winged blackbirds reside.  They are often both present at the same body of water where the yellow-headed variety exerts its dominance by choosing the best nesting areas.

Their range covers most of North America.  They are big consumers of insects but also feed on grains and will take seed from a bird feeder.  During breeding season most of their quarry comes from aquatic invertebrates it finds nearby.  As it ventures further away from water it forages for seeds and insects on the ground and will ever turn over small surface brick-a-brack such as leaves, stones, and bark on its quest for food.

Winters are spent in the southern United States and Mexico, as any snowbird with sense would do, and returns again in the spring to breed and harvest the abundant food supply that warm weather brings.

I have seen them three times now on my forrays.  They are always an exciting bird to see.  I hope to come across them again soon on my travels.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com