Dutch Birding volume 29 (2007) no 3

Yellow-headed Blackbird on Terschelling in July 1982

On 2-3 July 1982, an adult male Yellow-head Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus was seen by four observers on Terschelling, Friesland, the Netherlands. The description fits only this species and safely excludes similar species, especially Yellow-hooded Blackbird Chrysomus icterocephalus (which has been recorded as escape in Europe). The bird had been regarded as a presumed escape for many years but has recently been reconsidered by the Dutch rarities committee (CDNA) and has been admitted to the Dutch list as a bird of possibly wild origin. Probably, the same bird was seen on Texel, Noord-Holland, on 20 May and 14 June 1982 but the description contained some incorrect details for this species regarding the head coloration and these sightings were, therefore, not accepted.

Enno B Ebels, Joseph Haydnlaan 4, 3533 AE Utrecht, Nederland (ebelswxs.nl)
Leo M J van den Bergh, Bieskamp 74, 6651 JN Druten, Nederland (leo.vandenberghgmail.com)