Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Scientific Classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Icteridae
Species:	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Common:	Yellow-headed blackbird

The yellow-headed blackbird is a medium-sized passerine bird of the Icterid family. They breed in North America mainly west of the Great Lakes and migrate in the winter to the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Identification

Adult Male

The adult male yellow-headed blackbird is unmistakable with black body and bright yellow head, neck, and breast. They have a black stripe in front of eye to the bill. White patches in the wing may be visible while perched, but are conspicuous in flight.

Adult Female

The adult female yellow-headed blackbird has a dull black and brown body with pale yellow breast and throat, yellow on the neck, face, and above the eye and white streaking extending from yellow into brown on the lower chest.

Immature

Immature birds are similar in appearance the adults but with scalloped pattern on back and a white trailing edge to wing. Immature birds are buffy with dark flecks, dark wings and tail, and two large white wingbars. Immature females quickly become similar to the adult female. Immature males have more extensive yellow and a thin white patch in the wing.