Yellow-headed Blackbird in Habitat
Male yellow-headed blackbirds are striking looking birds with their black and bright yellow plumage. One of the images I had envisioned of this species was in its spring habitat where the blackbird would stand out against the green surroundings. So, I was happy to see this blackbird fly into a pack of reeds and show up a few moments later. It stayed for a few seconds before darting back into the reeds, but that was enough for me to fire a couple of shots.
A male yellow-headed blackbird balances itself on a reed during a breeze. In early spring, marshes across the western United States echo with the grating calls of yellow-headed blackbirds. These flashy birds with their striking yellow and black plumage pick out nesting spots, perch and display on prominent stalks to attract mates. At this time, they are highly visible and make a pretty sight in the new spring vegetation.
A yellow headed blackbird overseeing its territory in the Bear River migratory refuge in Utah. The seed stalk provides a regal perch for this elegant bird.
An yellow-headed blackbird in northern Utah rests among dried rushes as it returns back to its breeding area in early spring. Birds lose much of their body weight during migration and need a lot of food to recoup their lost energy. The availability of food, such as the insects or seeds, is critical to their survival at this point. Here, I could see the blackbird was busy consuming newly hatched midges, gnats and flies in the rushes.
Woodhouse Scrub Jay with Peanut
A scrub jay with a peanut taken from a feeder. Scrub jays are highly intelligent corvids and it was fascinating to see this jay examine the peanut at length before figuring out how to shell it.
