Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Yellow-Shouldered blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

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.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Dec 12, 1976

  • 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

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title
09/21/2007 72 FR 54061 54062 5-Year Review of 18 Caribbean Species
09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845
11/19/1976 41 FR 51019 51022 Determination of Endangered Status for Yellow-shouldered Blackbird and Determination of Critical Habitat; 41 FR 51019 51022 (Agelaius xanthomus)
06/10/1976 41 FR 23406 23408 Proposed Endangered Status for the Yellow Shouldered Blackbird; 41 FR 23406 23408 (Agelaius xanthomus)

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
11/12/1996 Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus)Revised Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
09/21/2007 72 FR 54061 54062 5-Year Review of 18 Caribbean Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Rule Active
    06/10/1976 41 FR 23406 23408 Proposed Endangered Status for the Yellow Shouldered Blackbird; 41 FR 23406 23408 (Agelaius xanthomus) Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Yellow-Shouldered blackbird

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Yellow-Shouldered blackbird.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    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.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009