---
title: "Yellow-headed Blackbird"
description: "Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus — Birds. The yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird with a yellow head."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/yellow-headed-blackbird
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Yellow-headed Blackbird

> Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus — Birds. The yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird with a yellow head.

- Scientific name: *Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 26953
- Wikidata: [Q527750](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q527750)
- iNaturalist taxon: [10470](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/10470)

## Names

- en: Yellow-headed Blackbird
- de: Brillenstärling
- es: Tordo cabeza amarilla
- fr: Carouge à tête jaune
- nl: Geelkoptroepiaal
- pt: Graúna-de-cabeça-amarela
- pl: Żółtogłowiec

## Countries with the most observations

US (17061), CA (5915), MX (2949), CR (6)

## Summary

The yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird with a yellow head.
It is the only member of the genus Xanthocephalus. Their scientific name derives from the Greek word for yellow, xanthous, and the word for head, cephalus.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-headed_blackbird

## Photo

![Yellow-headed Blackbird](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/yellow-headed-blackbird/medium.jpg)

Photo: Kathlin Simpkins · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115809565

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/yellow-headed-blackbird?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).