Photo: Kevin Cole from Pacific Coast, USA (en:User:Kevinlcole) / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 62.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Xanthocephalus
- Species xanthocephalus
Where it lives
Southwestern, south-central Canada to southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Males are black-bodied with a bright yellow head and breast and a white wing patch; females are brown overall with a duller yellow throat/breast and no white wing patch.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles are brown with duller yellow than adult males; immature males show some white in the wing.
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw, sc Canada to sw USA and nw Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.7 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 10.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-headed Blackbird?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.7 g.
Where does the Yellow-headed Blackbird live?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw, sc Canada to sw USA and nw Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Yellow-headed Blackbird belong to?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Yellow-headed Blackbird eat?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Yellow-headed Blackbird migrate?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Yellow-headed Blackbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Yellow-headed Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-headed Blackbird — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Yellow-headed Blackbird's range?
The Yellow-headed Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 4.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.