After vacationing in the southwest US or Mexico for the winter, Yellow-headed Blackbirds have returned to their breeding grounds in northern Illinois. It's great to once again see these wonderful birds that have so much character, one of my favorites. Welcome back!

Red-winged blackbirds and their unique song have always reminded me of summer. On this gray, cold, rainy day it's nice to remember summer. The last image of this group is of a flock of blackbirds from a couple of weeks ago, around a couple of hundred, that were quickly flying south for warmer climates.

How about having an endangered (in Illinois) yellow-headed blackbird staring right at you? Okay, that will do. Hello Yellow!

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is on the endangered list in Illinois, so it was quite a treat to observe and capture this beauty (male) in the reeds and cattails of Goose Lake in northern Illinois this past June . . .