Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

eBird gives this description for the Yellow-headed Blackbird:  Stunning and unmistakable blackbird of western North America. Males are black with a golden-yellow head and white patch on the wing. Females are all dark brown with messy yellow on the head and breast. Breeds in marshes, where males sing a grating, mechanical song. Winters in large flocks, mainly in Mexico. Often mixes with other species of blackbird. Forages in open areas, sometimes on barren dirt or in fields.  All About Birds gives this additional descriptive information:  With a golden head, a white patch on black wings, and a call that sounds like a rusty farm gate opening, the Yellow-headed Blackbird demands your attention. Look for them in western and prairie wetlands, where they nest in reeds directly over the water. They’re just as impressive in winter, when huge flocks seem to roll across farm fields. Each bird gleans seeds from the ground, then leapfrogs over its flock mates to the front edge of the ever-advancing troupe.

I saw my first Yellow-headed Blackbird on December 31, 2021.  Dorothy and I had driven to Port Lavaca to eat BBQ and then headed down to Indianola Beach and Magic Ridge to look for birds.  On FM 316 near the turnoff to Magnolia Beach we encountered a huge flock of birds next to the road.  They were on powerlines, fences, shrubs, and on the ground.  We stopped to observe them and saw that they were mostly Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and a few Grackles.  As we watched, I noticed a flash of color and discovered that there were two Yellow-headed Blackbirds with the flock, sitting in a bush with a bunch of Cowbirds.  I was very excited because I had tried to locate them on several occasions prior to this day without success.  I was able to get some decent photos to document that day.