Yellow-headed Blackbird
Learn to identify the Yellow-headed Blackbird by ear. Master the "kreeee-kooorr" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Yellow-headed Blackbird sounds like
A striking marsh-dwelling icterid, the male Yellow-headed Blackbird flaunts a golden-yellow head and breast contrasted against a coal-black body and a bold white wing patch. Females and immatures are browner with more subdued yellow, but still show the diagnostic white wing patch in flight. During breeding season males perch conspicuously on cattails, delivering their unmistakably harsh, buzzing song. Outside the breeding season the species often forms huge mixed flocks with other blackbirds and starlings in agricultural areas.
“kreeee-kooorr”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Yellow-headed Blackbird
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Yellow-headed Blackbird's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.
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Where you'll hear it
Breeds across western and central North America from the Canadian Prairie Provinces south through the Great Plains, Great Basin, and northern Mexico. Winters in the southwestern United States, Baja California, and western & central Mexico.
Large, permanent, freshwater marshes dominated by cattails, bulrushes, or reeds; in migration and winter also found in open fields, feedlots, grain stubble, and wet meadows.
Neotropical migrant. Northern breeders arrive late April–May, depart August–September. Migration peaks March–April southbound, September–October northbound. Winter flocks remain November–February in the Southwest & Mexico.
Similar species
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged has red & yellow shoulder epaulets, entirely black head, no white wing patch.
Bobolink
Breeding male Bobolink has buff nape and white back patches but a black belly; smaller size, shorter tail.
Brewer’s Blackbird
Brewer’s lacks yellow head and white wing patch; glossy purplish head with pale eye in males.