the yellow-headed blackbird (xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird , and the only member of the genus xanthocephalus .
adults have a pointed bill .
the adult male is mainly black with a yellow head and breast; they have a white wing patch sometimes only visible in flight .
the adult female is mainly brown with a dull yellow throat and breast .
both genders resemble the respective genders of the smaller yellow-hooded blackbird of south america .
the breeding habitat of the yellow-headed blackbird is cattail (typha spp .
) marshes in north america , mainly west of the great lakes .
the nest is built with and attached to marsh vegetation .
they nest in colonies , often sharing their habitat closely with the red-winged blackbird (agelaius phoeniceus) .
during the breeding and nesting season the males are very territorial and spend much of their time perched on reed stalks and displaying or chasing off intruders .
these birds migrate in the winter to the southwestern united states and mexico .
they often migrate in huge flocks with other species of birds .
these blackbirds are only permanent residents in the usa of the san joaquin valley and the lower colorado river valley of arizona and california .
it is an extremely rare vagrant to western europe , with some records suspected to refer to escapes from captivity .
these birds forage in the marsh , in fields or on the ground; they sometimes catch insects in flight .
they mainly eat seeds and insects .
outside of the nesting period , they often feed in flocks , often with other blackbirds .
this bird's song resembles the grating of a rusty hinge .
