Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
For many years, I've taught birding Elderhostels at Malheur for the Portland Audubon Society. One year, during our opening session when folks were introducing themselves and giving the group an estimation of their birding knowledge, a gentleman asked, "Don - what's the name of that black bird with the yellow head I've seen flying around everywhere?".
Yes, he'd been seeing yellow-headed blackbirds, which were new to him.
This bird, unknown to many who live in western Oregon or Washington, is a very common and pretty bird of the marshes and flooded fields throughout the eastern portions of the Pacific Northwest. Their call has been described as harsh and unmusical, but is one of my favorites.
Male yellow-headed blackbirds make their territorial pronouncements from an open perch, often a fencepost or on the barbed wire itself. They are a bit wary, though, and often fly away when they see a big telephoto pointed their way. Also, their favorite perches often lie on the other side of the inevitable ditch which borders most roads in the area. Though they're quite large for passerines, these perches are far enough away that a very long lens is needed.
I like to chase this species in the Burns area, particularly along the roads which run north-south, early in the morning when the light's nice and there's little traffic.
