What is a black bird with a yellow head and breast?

What is a black bird with a yellow head and breast?

Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird is identified by its very distinct bright yellow head and breast. The species occurs in prairie wetlands and emergent wetlands throughout much of the western United States and Mexico.

Where do yellow-headed blackbirds nest?

Yellow-heads nest in noisy colonies in big cattail marshes of the west and midwest; when not nesting, they gather in flocks in open fields, often with other blackbirds.

What does a yellow-headed black bird sound like?

In fact, the male yellow-headed blackbird sounds like he is choking, and when he does get his call out, it sounds like a rusty door opening. The call is so unusual and loud, every time I hear it, I can’t stop thinking how strange it sounds. Males display by perching near the top of cattails.

Is a Bobolink a blackbird?

The bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a small New World blackbird and the only member of the genus Dolichonyx. An old name for this species is the “rice bird”, from its tendency to feed on cultivated grains. Adults are 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long with short finch-like bills and weigh about 28 g (1 oz).

Where can I find a yellow headed blackbird?

With a golden head, a white patch on black wings, and a call that sounds like a rusty farm gate opening, the Yellow-headed Blackbird demands your attention. Look for them in western and prairie wetlands, where they nest in reeds directly over the water.

How does a yellow headed blackbird defend its territory?

The male Yellow-headed Blackbird defends a small territory of prime nesting reeds. He may attract up to eight females to nest within his area. The male helps feed nestlings, but usually only in the first nest established in his territory. The other females have to feed their young all by themselves.

What kind of food does yellow headed blackbird eat?

Yellow-headed Blackbirds may visit feeders to eat seeds and grains, including sunflower seeds. The Yellow-headed Blackbird often nests in the same marsh as the Red-winged Blackbird.

Why are yellow headed blackbirds aggressive to Wrens?

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is strongly aggressive toward Marsh Wrens too, probably because of the egg-destroying habits of the wrens. When the Yellow-headed Blackbird finishes breeding and leaves the marsh, Marsh Wrens expand into former blackbird territories.