From January 11 into early March, 2010, Pruyn Sanctuary was occasionally visited by an unusual bird, a yellow-headed blackbird (YHBL), typically found in the western United States. The bird was actually first reported on January 2, two miles north of Pruyn Sanctuary, but not reported again until it appeared at Pruyn Sanctuary on January 11.
This web page offers
a record of sightings, photos of the YHBL by visting birders,
other records of YHBL in the region, typical range of YHBLs in the U.S,
and a graphic of different plumages of YHBL.
(First) Photo credit: Trudy Battaly
Mon 01/11/2010 3:40 pm @ Pruyn Sanctuary
YHBL Sightings at Pruyn Sanctuary, Winter 2010
(refresh/reload for latest data)
Dates in red have photos
[link to photos]
Mon 01/11/2010 3:40 pm
Tue 01/12/2010 ~8:00 am
& ~3:30 pm
Wed 01/13/2010 7:50 am & 3:20 pm
Thu 01/14/2010 no reported sightings
Fri 01/15/2010 8:10 am & 3:05 pm
Sat 01/16/2010 no reported sightings
Sun 01/17/2010 no reported sightings
Mon 01/18/2010 2:00pm
Tue 01/19 to Sat 01/23/2010 no reported sightings
Sun 01/24/2010 ~2:00pm
Mon 01/25/2010 10:00 am
Tue 01/26/2010 ~1:40 pm
Wed 01/27/2010 no reported sightings
Thu 01/28/2010 12:10 pm & 2:45 pm
Fri 01/29/2010 no reported sightings
Sat 01/30/2010 8:30am & 10:30 am
Sun 01/31/2010 no reported sightings
Mon 02/01/2010 no reported sightings
Tue 02/02/2010 no reported sightings
Wed 02/03/2010 no reported sightings
Thu 02/04/2010 no reported sightings
Fri 02/05/2010 4:20 pm
Sat 02/06/2010 2:25-4:00 pm
Sun 02/07/2010 no reported sightings
Mon 02/08/2010 no reported sightings
Tue 02/09/2010 no reported sightings
Wed 02/10/2010 12:04-3:30pm
Thu 02/25/2010 2:30pm
Wed 03/03/2010 ~2:00pm
Thu 03/04/2010 ~4:00pm
Did you see the bird at a time not listed above?
Do you have additional photos of the yellow-headed blackbird
that you might share with Saw Mill River Audubon?
send us an email
Saw Mill River Audubon has supplied extra bird seed this winter to make it easier for visiting birders to see the YHBL.
Might you consider making a donation
to help support our efforts?
Click here to make a donation
(Thanks)
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Google Map to Pruyn Sanctuary Office Entrance
Past Regional Sightings | Typical Distribution | Additional Images
Notes that were added to help visiting birders see the bird
The YHBL has been observed in a mixed flock of brown-headed cowbirds
and red-winged blackbirds visiting the bird feeder behind the office
building at Pruyn Sanctuary. While this area is closed to public access,
blackbird flocks typically often fly between the feeder and the surrounding trees
while visiting the feeder.
The best observation area will be on the path by the garden. Please do not enter the closed area beyond the rail fences
found on either side of the building.
An additional ground feeding area has been added on west side
of the office building. Viewers that remain away from the rail fence
and on the path by the garden are more likely to see the blackbird flock
with the YHBL come down to the ground to feed in this area.
The office for Saw Mill River Audubon is open M/W/F 10:30am to 3:30pm.
Pruyn Sanctuary is open to the public every day dawn to dusk.
Google Map to Pruyn Sanctuary Office Entrance
Past Regional Sightings | Typical Distribution | Additional Images
Typical Range Map: Yellow-headed Blackbird 
Copyrighted image above. Further use restricted Distribution Notes from Birds of North America
Breeding range: Prairie and mountain meadow wetlands of w. and central U.S. and Canada. Winters primarily from w. and s. Arizona, s. New Mexico, and w. and extreme s. Texas south through Mexico ...Very rare along Gulf Coast of Texas and w. Louisiana. Individuals recorded regularly in winter along east coast from at least Massachusetts south to Florida where most occur in central and southern peninsula .... Eastern wintering birds frequently found at feeders, particularly in colder regions ...Reported with increased frequency from east coast in recent years. In Florida, fewer than 15 records prior to the mid-1960s, but now a yearly, “almost year-round” visitor...
NYSARC* records of previous NY state sightings
of Yellow-headed Blackbirds
* New York State Avian Records Committee
Additional unverified regional reports
of Yellow-headed Blackbirds on eBird
| 4/28-5/2/06 |
Hartford |
CT |
| 5/7 & 5/11/07 |
Long Pond Road , Monroe Cnty |
NY |
| 7/6- 8/10/07 |
Jones Beach--West End, Nassau Cnty |
NY |
| 8/24/07 |
Liberty Sod Farm, Warren Cnty |
NJ |
| 10/15/07 |
Stevens Street, Cape May |
NJ |
| 12/30/07 |
Glades Wildlife Refuge, Cumberland |
NJ |
| 2/17-18/08 |
Front Road, Hunterdon, Cnty |
NJ |
| 8/20/08 |
Cape May MBO, Cape May |
NJ |
| 9/29/08 |
Higbee Beach, Cape May |
NJ |
| 10/29/08 |
Higbee Beach, Cape May |
NJ |
| 1/23/09 |
Old French Road, Monroe Cnty |
NY |
| 2/18/09 |
Haines Neck Road, Salem Cnty |
NJ |
| 4/8-14/09 |
Milford, New Haven |
CT |
| 8/10/09 |
Elba Mucklands, Genessee Cnty |
NY |
| 8/25/09 |
Iroquois NWR, Genesee Cnty |
NY |
| 9/6-7/09 |
Cape May MBO, Cape May |
NJ |
| 11/29/09 |
Cape May MBO, Cape May |
NJ |
Google Map to Pruyn Sanctuary Office Entrance
Past Regional Sightings | Typical Distribution | Additional Images
Images of YHBL plumages
Copyrighted image above. Further use restricted
Images of YHBL @Pruyn Sanctuary, Winter 2010
02/06/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Gail Benson & Tom Burke
02/06/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Gail Benson & Tom Burke
02/06/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Gail Benson & Tom Burke
02/06/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Scott Wieman
01/28/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Benjamin Van Doren
01/11/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Trudy Battaly
01/11/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Trudy Battaly
01/11/2010 @Pruyn. Photo credit: Trudy Battaly
01/02/2010 @private feeder near Kitchawan Preserve. Photo credit: Linsay Cochran
01/02/2010 @private feeder near Kitchawan Preserve. Photo credit: Linsay Cochran
Google Map to Pruyn Sanctuary Office Entrance
Past Regional Sightings | Typical Distribution | Additional Images
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