228 Yellow-Headed Blackbird 



most other birds are singing finished nuptial songs, however humble, this 

 fine fellow, perched aloft on a cluster of swaying reed-stems, is strain- 

 ing every nerve in an attempt that results, after a few harsh pre- 

 liminary, but fairly promising notes, in a seemingly painful choking spell 

 that terminates in a long-drawn rasping squeal that is nothing short of 

 harrowing. It has always seemed as though some day a Yellowhead 

 would be found who could sing the song that they are all trying so hard 

 to render, but thus far not a single note of the dreadful discord has been 

 improved upon, and it always ends in the same disappointing failure. 

 The rasping sounds are accompanied by a most intense bodily effort,* 

 as is evidenced by the widely spread tail, swollen 

 throat, upturned head and twisted neck. Even the 

 In " er ordinary call-note is a hoarse rattling croak that sug- 



gests a chronic sore throat. The voice of the female is less harsh, and 

 I have never heard it utter the long squeal of the male. 



As an economic factor, the Yellow-headed Blackbird plays about the 

 same role as the Redwing; but the fact that it is in the aggregate much 

 less numerous and much more restricted in its general range renders it 

 of less importance than the latter enormously abundant and widely dis- 

 tributed species. 



But with the coming of spring and the reoccupation of the northern 

 portions of their range, they congregate at their nesting-haunts and for 

 a time supplement their insect and waste-seed diet by extensive stealings 

 from the various grains being planted by the neighboring farmers. 

 Wheat, oats, flax, corn, and, in fact everything, receives a share of their 

 attention at this time. Sprouting corn is pulled up by the roots in order 

 to get at the grain below, and in fields near the sloughs it is only by re- 

 planting the despoiled hills and covering with manure that a crop can 

 be started at all. 



It is at this season that the Yellowhead and its associates the Red- 

 wing and Crackle come in for their first bitter denunciation by the 

 plundered farmer. After the crops are well started, the Yellowhead once 

 more returns to a diet that is more beneficial than 

 injurious. During the "breaking" season they, in 

 company with a troop made up of Franklin's Gulls. 

 Black Terns, Crackles and Cowbirds, may be found following every 

 plow and greedily devouring the many angleworms and insects turned 

 out. I have known them to consume large numbers of the white grub 

 of the cockchafer in this way. Grasshoppers they eat at this time as 

 well as all through the season, and this insect forms a large part of the 

 food of the young. 



Classification and Distribution 



The Yellow-headed Blackbird belongs to the Order Passeres, and Family 

 Corvida. Its scientific name is Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. It ranges in 

 summer from the upper Mississipoi Valley on the east, and the Saskatchewan 

 Valley on the north to the central plains, southern Rockv Mountains and southern 

 California. Its winters are spent in northern and central Mexico. 



This and other Education?! T e^flets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 

 Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists given on request. 



