Yellow-headed Blackbird

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a rare breeder in the Chicago Wilderness Region. Preferred habitat includes high-water marshes with dense cattails or other emergent plants. This species is poorly sampled by the BCN Survey, but colonies have abandoned many previous nesting locations during the past twenty years, and it can be very difficult to attract these birds back to a region once they leave. This species is also sensitive to changes in water levels. Photo: © Eric Secker