Return to This Species List
Start New Search
Yellow-headed Blackbird - Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
PORC Decision
Class: III (An accepted sight or sound record documented and submitted by one observer.)
If Class is blank, then the record has not yet been reviewed
Accepted: Yes
When:
Who:
Where:
County:
Location:
Exact Site: Peace Valley Park
Details: (To view more text, grab the lower-right corner of a field to widen or lengthen the box)
For older records, view original documentation here.
How Many:
Age/Plumage/Sex: 1st winter male
Habitat: Plowed farm field
Distance from bird: first about 30 ft. with bins, then about 150 ft. via scope
Viewing Conditions: Sunny
Optics Used: Leica 10x42 Bins Leica scope
Description: 1st yr. male. Bright yellow breast (brighter than what is shown in Sibley) with much duller yellow supercilium extending to the black bill. Black strip between eye and bill. Dull yellow malar & behind the darker cheeks. Facial pattern essentially as shown in Sibley. The thing that I was surprised to see so easily as the flock flew was the small yellow vent area that stood out against the dark belly/under-tail. The dark upper & lower parts were not pitch black but very dark. The bird was bigger than the many cowbirds it was with.
Behavior: Feeding with a large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Likely on the high end of 100-200 cowbirds
Separation from similar species: No other expected blackbird has mostly black body with bright yellow breast. No other blackbird has a yellow vent spot against the black body
Discussion: I would never have seen this if not counting the cowbirds through the car window. It was close to the road at first giving great views but moving a lot on the freshly plowed field. Before I could get a picture the flock flew to far side of plowed area. I was able to get it in the scope for more convincing views. Then they flew to opposite end of field. This was all in less than ten-fifteen minutes I guess. At that point the farmer showed up and made a pass around the field going right where the birds were. Apparently something was wrong with the equipment as he stopped and checked and then left. What timing!!! Never saw the birds return. Never expected to find one of these locally. This is the 9th county report
eBird Link(s)
References:
After the observation: Sibley Guide
Media:
Photos and Drawings
Videos
Audio Recordings