The Birds of Wyoming. 



113 



497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). 

 Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 Summer resident and common about marshy places be- 

 low 8,000 feet, while breeding. This bird is found all over 

 the state in regions below the pine forests. Although known 

 to feed upon grain in farming districts, yet there has been no 

 complaint offered that they are in any way detrimental here. 

 Concerning their food F. E. L. Beal (Bui. 13, U. S. Dcp. of 

 Ag-, pp- 32-33) gives the following summary: 



"From this brief review some conclusions may be drawn, 

 but the somewhat fragmentary nature of the evidence makes 



it probable that they may be sub- 

 ject to considerable modification 

 in future. It is almost certain 

 that the rather peculiar distribu- 

 tion of the various items of food 

 through the season will prove to 

 be more apparent than real in 

 the light of more extensive obser- 

 vations. In the meantime we 

 may safely conclude ( 1 ) that the 

 Yellowhead feeds principally 

 upon insects, grain, and weed 

 seed, and does not attack fruit 



/. XEi-LOyf- HEADED BLACXBlRO 

 2 BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. 



or garden produce; (2) that it 

 does much good by eating nox- 

 ious insects and troublesome weeds, and (3) that where too 

 abundant it is likely to be injurious to grain. 



"When it is considered that the Redwing has been ac- 

 cused of doing immense damage to grain fields, it is evident 

 that the Yellowhead, which has been found to eat nearly three 

 times as much grain as the former, must be capable of much 

 mischief in localities where it becomes superabundant." 



Data are rather abundant on the occurrence of this species 

 in Wyoming. Cooper reports it from Fort Laramie, 1857; 

 Williston found them abundant at Lake Como ; Cones reports 



