In size the yellow-shouldered blackbird is slightly smaller than the red-winged blackbird. Adults and juveniles of both sexes have all black plumage with yellow epaulettes. Juveniles can be distinguished from adults by black speckling over the edges of the epaulettes. Adult males are significantly larger, about 17 percent by weight, than the females. Although this species is omniverous, it can be basically characterized as an arboreal insectivore. During the nesting season the young's diet is about 9O percent arthropod material. At bird feeders and around domestic animals, this blackbird has been observed to take cattle ration, dog food, monkey chow, nectar, fruit, cooked rice, and granulated sugar.
States/US Territories in which the Yellow-shouldered blackbird is known to occur:
Puerto Rico
USFWS Refuges in which the Yellow-shouldered blackbird is known to occur:
CABO ROJO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports --
NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants,
animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides
in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too.
NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative
taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.