Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 17,219 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Yellow-headed Blackbird: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow-headed Blackbird
The yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird, and the only member of the genus Xanthocephalus.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow-headed Blackbird by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,501 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 2,464 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Utah | 1,784 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 1,263 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 1,220 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 939 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 864 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Nevada | 788 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Idaho | 669 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Minnesota | 570 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wyoming | 560 | June | May–Jul |
| Montana | 541 | May | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 470 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 338 | May | Apr–Jul |
| North Dakota | 318 | May | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 291 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 242 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 218 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 213 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 205 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 188 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Illinois | 88 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 77 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 70 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 58 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 54 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 45 | May | Mar–May |
| Arkansas | 25 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 23 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Tennessee | 21 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 14 | April | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alaska | 11 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 9 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Mississippi | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 7 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 7 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Connecticut | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | April | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Brewer's Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Western Meadowlark
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Yellow-headed Blackbird?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Yellow-headed Blackbird most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Utah.