Yellow-headed Blackbird

Icterus auratus

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a striking bird with a black body, bright yellow head, and white wing patches. Males have a distinct call that sounds like a rusty farm gate swinging in the wind. These birds are often found in marshes, wetlands, and grasslands, where they build their nests among cattails and reeds. They are known for their gregarious nature, often forming large flocks during the breeding season. Yellow-headed Blackbirds primarily feed on seeds and insects. Their populations are stable, but they face threats from habitat loss and degradation.

Habitat: Marshes, wetlands, grasslands

Yellow-headed Blackbird
© John Gerrard Keulemans · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Tours where you can spot this bird

Custom Yucatan Birding and Nature Photography Tour
Custom Yucatan Birding and Nature Photography Tour
Mexico / Yucatan Peninsula Private tour 1 day | 0h

A custom birding and nature photography experience in the Yucatan Peninsula, designed around target birds, family needs or Maya-history inte...

From 0.00 USD
12-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Tour
12-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Tour
Mexico / Cancun Group tour 12 days | 0h

A 12-day Yucatan birding tour exploring the peninsula, southern forests near the Guatemala and Belize borders, Rio Lagartos, Calakmul and Co...

From 0.00 USD
9-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Trip
9-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Trip
Mexico / Cancun Group tour 9 days | 0h

A 9-day Yucatan Peninsula birding trip covering Puerto Morelos, Valladolid, Rio Lagartos, Merida, Campeche, Calakmul, Bacalar and Cozumel....

From 0.00 USD
Riviera Maya Area Birding Day
Riviera Maya Area Birding Day
Mexico / Riviera Maya Private tour 1 day | 6h

A flexible Riviera Maya birding day from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or nearby resorts....

From 0.00 USD
Puerto Morelos Toh Reserve Birding
Puerto Morelos Toh Reserve Birding
Mexico / Puerto Morelos Private tour 1 day | 5h

A Puerto Morelos birding visit to Toh Reserve for Yucatan forest birds, migrants and Riviera Maya birders with limited time....

From 0.00 USD
Rio Lagartos Birdwatching and Mangrove Boat Tour
Rio Lagartos Birdwatching and Mangrove Boat Tour
Mexico / Rio Lagartos Private tour 1 day | 8h

A Rio Lagartos birdwatching day for flamingos, mangroves, coastal dunes, restricted-range birds and optional early nocturnal targets....

From 0.00 USD
Xocen Reserve Birding from Valladolid
Xocen Reserve Birding from Valladolid
Mexico / Valladolid Private tour 1 day | 5h

A half-day or full-day birding visit to Xocen Reserve south of Valladolid for forest and scrub specialties....

From 0.00 USD