Plants and Animals
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed blackbird
Key Characteristics
The male Yellow-headed blackbird is unmistakable with its yellow head, neck, and breast, black body plumage, lore, and eye-stripe, and white wing patches visible in flight. Females and immature males have muted plumages with dull black and brown bodies, pale yellow primarily on the breast and throat, but also on the neck and eyestripe. Other female or immature male blackbirds lack yellow on the head. The song is also distinctive and harsh or raspy - "oka wee wee, oka wee wee, oka wee wee" or "kuk - kohkohkoh -- waaaaaaaa".
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Bay | 3 | 2019 |
| Delta | 1 | 1995 |
| Saginaw | 2 | 2025 |
| Tuscola | 2 | 2007 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
Yellow-headed Blackbirds are found in cattail and phragmites stands in permanent wetlands such as marshes, sloughs, marshy lake margins, and sewage lagoons. The species is a colonial breeder.
Natural Community Types
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Besides protecting habitat used by existing populations of Yellow-headed blackbirds management should focus on diverse deepwater emergent marshes surrounded by shallower marshes and grassland areas. They typically nest in tall stands of emergent vegetation over water 50 - 100 cm deep. Large marshes with a 50:50 ratio of open water and emergent vegetation, often termed hemi-marshes, attract the highest densities and diversities of wetland birds, including Yellow-headed blackbirds. While vegetation should be rather dense to provide cover for the nest stem densities that are too high may reduce aquatic insect production and Yellow-headed blackbird encounter rates with prey. Wildlife biologists should manage wetlands, especially those with water level control structures, for the hemi-marsh state. Best management practices, such as filter strips, no-till farming, and conservation tillage, should be encouraged in watersheds containing suitable wetlands to help protect valuable habitats from siltation and chemical pollution.
Active Period
Migration from first week of April to fourth week of April
Migration from third week of August to fourth week of October
Nesting from fourth week of April to fourth week of July
Survey Methods
The best time to survey for Yellow-headed blackbirds is during the breeding season when the males are territorial and conspicuous. A variety of techniques can be used to successfully survey Yellow-headed blackbirds, including transects or point counts traversed by foot, boat, or canoe, in suitable breeding habitat.
Dip net survey
Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of July
Time of Day: Daytime
Humidity: Humid
Precipitation: Just after rain
Wind: Light Breeze
Water Level: Low Water Levels
Water Turbidity: Low Turbidity
Survey Method Comment: This method is for locating larvae in shallow pools.
Litter leaf bag sampling
Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of July
Time of Day: Daytime
Humidity: Humid
Precipitation: Just after rain
Wind: Light Breeze
Water Level: Low Water Levels
Water Turbidity: Low Turbidity
Survey Method Comment: Litter leaf bags are placed in shallow pools. This method is for locating larvae.
Visual encounter survey
Survey Period: From first week of March to fourth week of June
Time of Day: Evening for adults, daytime for larvae
Humidity: Humid
Precipitation: Just after rain
Wind: Light Breeze
Survey Method Comment: Both adults and larvae are most active during this time.
References
Survey References
- Crump, M.L. and N.J. Scott Jr. 1994. Visual encounter surveys. In: W.R. Heyer, M.A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, L.C. Hayek, and M.S. Foster, eds. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 84–92.
- Giffen, N.R., R.S. Reasor, B.L. Peterson, and C.A. Campbell. 2009. Reptile and amphibian abundance and distribution survey. Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park.
- Talley, B.L. and T.L. Crisman. 2007. Leaf litterbag sampling for larval plethodontid salamander populations in Georgia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.132:509-515.
Technical References
- Brenee'L, M., S.J. Price, and M.E. Dorcas. 2014. Capture probability and survivorship of the southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) in drought and non-drought conditions. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 2014(2), 366-37.
- Harding, J.H. and D.A. Mifsud. 2017. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press.
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C.S. Parr, T. Jones, G.S. Hammond, and T.A. Dewey. 2025. Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamander). Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Accessed July 06, 2025.
- Oswald, H. R., J.L. Waldron, S.M. Welch, S.H. Bennett, and T.A. Mousseau. 2015. Environmental effects on Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) nest-site selection. Copeia. 103(1), 7–13.
- Peterman, W.E., and R.D. Semlitsch. 2009. Efficacy of riparian buffers in mitigating local population declines and the effects of even-aged timber harvest on larval salamanders. Forest Ecology and Management. 257(1), 8-14.
- Petranka, J.W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 587pp.
- Price, S.J., K.K. Cecala, R.A. Browne, and M.E. Dorcas. 2011. Effects of urbanization on occupancy of stream salamanders. Conservation Biology. 25(3), 547–555.
- Smith, S., and G.D. Grossman. 2003. Stream microhabitat use by larval southern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) in the Georgia piedmont. Copeia.?2003(3), 531-543.