Photographed at the Seep Lakes Wildlife Area north of Othello, Washington

Mid-April
Nikkor 300 mm lens
 

During courtship, the male spreads its tail, half opens its wings, throws its heads back, and sings (a rather raucous sound). Yellow-headed blackbird territory is usually in portions of marsh with deeper water, thus separating them from red-winged blackbird nests. 

Flocks return to Washington State in early April from wintering grounds south to Mexico.