Yellow-headed Blackbird male about to grab a midge from the air – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
This Yellow-headed Blackbird and a midge image was taken this past Monday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah. The midges have hatched and are flying around near the auto tour route. I’ve written about the importance of midges before in a post titled Midges and Birds – Food for Thought.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) can perch on cattails, reeds, rushes, or mounds of vegetation and snatch midges right out of the air. Capturing it with my camera was a treat on Monday, that is a midge to the right of the blackbird’s bill.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Yellow-headed Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great timing! Yellow-headed blackbirds are so striking.
Julie, I did click the shutter button at a wonderful time! Thank you
Wow Mia nice shot! He seems to eat so luxuriously, the food almost flying into the bird’s mouth.
Laurence, the midges are so thick in places that birds don’t have to fly to get them, they just snag them from the air! I am really glad midges do not bite. Thanks very much for your comment.
We have red winged blackbirds here who have a very distinct call but I’ve never seen yellow headed blackbirds. Beautiful. Carol
Gorgeous bird! Looks like a beautiful song to hear 🙂
It is a very different, mechanical sound and at times it seems the males just can’t stop themselves from singing. Thanks!
Great capture Mia; he almost looks too big for that reed.
Dan, they are heavy on the reeds and cattails. Fun birds to watch! Thank you.