Montour County, PA – Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Amy Dopp of Montour County, Pennsylvania emailed us a few days ago with some photos of one of two Yellow-headed Blackbirds that have been visiting her parents’s bird feeders for the past few months. This isn’t the first record of this species in Montour County, but is certainly a rare and noteworthy species anywhere in the state especially away from the southeastern counties. Amy mentioned that her parents, Arlene and Ross Dopp, have lived in the same house for 45 years and keep a close eye on their feeders. They were shocked to find the Yellow-headed Blackbirds one day after tracking down an odd call they heard in their backyard. Amy told me that this was one of her parents most exciting moments of backyard bird watching in 45 years.

One of two Yellow-headed Blackbirds that have been visiting a backyard in Montour County, PA. (Photo by Amy Dopp)

One of two Yellow-headed Blackbirds that have been visiting a backyard in Montour County, PA. (Photo by Amy Dopp)

One of two Yellow-headed Blackbirds that have been visiting a backyard in Montour County, PA. (Photo by Amy Dopp)

One of two Yellow-headed Blackbirds that have been visiting a backyard in Montour County, PA. (Photo by Amy Dopp)