THE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 



[Xanihocephalus xanthocephalus.) 



THE geographical distribution of 

 this member of the blackbird 

 family is western North 

 America to the Pacific Ocean, 

 east to Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, and 

 Texas. The bird is accidental in the 

 Atlantic states. It is found generally- 

 distributed on the prairies in all favor- 

 able localities from Texas to Illinois. 

 It is a common bird in the West, col- 

 lecting in colonies to breed in marshy 

 places anywhere in its general range, 

 often in company with the red-winged 

 blackbird. The nests are usually 

 placed in the midst of large marshes, 

 attached to the tall flags and grasses. 

 Davie says they are generally large, 

 light, but thick-brimmed, made of in- 

 terwoven grasses and sedges impacted 

 together. The eggs are from two to 

 six in number, but the usual number is 

 four. Their ground color is dull 

 grayish-white, in some grayish-green, 

 profusely covered with small blotches 

 and specks of drab, purplish-brown 

 and umber. The average size is 

 1.12X.75. 



Mr. Nelson says that the yellow- 

 headed blackbird is a very common 

 resident of Cook County, 111., in large 

 marshes. It arrives the first of May 

 and commences nesting the last of that 

 month. Owing to the restricted local- 

 ities inhabited by it, it is but slightly 

 known among farmers; even those liv- 

 ing near the marshes think it an un- 

 common bird. The only difference in 

 the habits of the male and female is 

 the slightly greater shyness of the 

 former. Colonies nest in rushes in the 

 Calumet marshes, are bold and inter- 

 esting, and adults are sometimes seen 

 on the ground along country roads 

 some distance from water. 



The food of these birds during the 



nesting season is worms and grubs, 

 which are fed each day to the young 

 birds by the hundreds. In this way 

 they help protect the crops of the 

 farmer. In the autumn, when the 

 young can fly as well as their parents, 

 they collect in large flocks and start 

 on their southern journey. At this 

 time young and old travel together. 

 Many of them are killed by hawks, 

 which often follow a flock for days, 

 dashing into their midst whenever 

 they see a chance to capture one. 



The blackbirds are alike in general 

 characteristics. They all walk and get 

 most of their food on the ground. In 

 spring, when large flocks are roaming 

 in all directions, one may easily be 

 confused by them. Miss Merriam says 

 that with a little care they will easily 

 be distinguished. The crow blackbirds 

 may be known by their large size and 

 long tails. The male cowbird may be 

 told at a glance, she says, by his 

 chocolate-colored head, the red-wing 

 by his epaulettes, and, we may add, the 

 }'ellow-headed by the brilliant yellow 

 of bis whole head and neck, "as if he 

 had plunged up to his shoulders in a 

 keg of yellow paint, while the rest of 

 his attire is shining black." He utters 

 a loud, shrill whistle, quite unlike any 

 sound produced by his kinsmen. 



How sweet the harmonies of afternoon, 

 The blackbird sings along the sunny 

 breeze 

 His ancient song of leaves and summer 

 boon; 

 Rich breath of hayfields streams thro' 

 the whispering trees, 

 And birds of morning trim their bus- 

 tling wings, 

 And listen fondly, while the black- 

 bird sings. 



— Frederick Tennyson. 



