This striking bird is a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Its scientific name means “yellow head.”
I saw this male bird at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon.
These large blackbirds are easy to identify. The males have a bright yellow head and a white patch on their wings.
The Yellow-headed Blackbird has a unique song that also makes it easy to identify. All About Birds describes it as sounding like “a rusty farm gate opening.”
Here’s a link to a recording made in Colorado from the Birds of the World site.
Fun Fact: Since Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest over water, young birds often fall out of the nests and swim short distances to rescue themselves.
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Beautiful bird and fascinating trivia about the young ones.
Thank you, Egidio! Yes, I never knew that fact about the young birds until I looked up more about them.
What a beauty!
Yes, he was and he let me know it! ;)
A very striking and beautiful bird Siobhan
Yeah, their yellow coloring is so bright!
What a striking looking bird! Thanks for introducing me to it.
Yes, they really stand out in looks and voice.
That's a handsome bird and an unusual one for me - all our blackbirds have black heads!
Yes, they are handsome birds, Sarah!
Beautiful picture 👌
Thank you! :)
That's a sensational bird!
>> Since Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest over water, young birds often fall out of the nests and swim short distances to rescue themselves.
That's kinda how I learned to swim. :)
Yeah, they are beautiful. There must be an interesting story behind how you learned to swim. 🤔