It can be found in the extreme western tributaries of Lake Erie, the Genesee River system, bays and tributaries along Lake Ontario, in Oneida Lake, the Mohawk and Mid-Hudson River system, lower Hudson river tributaries, and the St. Lawrence River. While it is most often mistaken for the brown bullhead, a yellow bullhead can be distinguished by its white chin barbels. Yellow bullheads prefer the waters of ponds, streams, and small brooks, with some vegetation and clear water. They spawn slightly earlier than other bullheads - usually in late May or June. Nests are often built under a stream bank or near the protection of large stones or stumps.
Yellow bullheads are less tolerant of harmful conditions than their cousins the brown bullheads.
Like other catfish, yellow bullheads make a tasty meal. However, because of their more limited range, they are not often caught by anglers. Black Bullhead Averaging eight to ten inches long, the black bullhead is the smallest of New York State's bullheads. It is even tougher than the brown bullhead and can withstand extremely high water temperatures and silty conditions. Black bullheads are uncommon in the State, restricted to the upper Genesee River drainage, a few locations in the Lake Ontario drainage, and in the St. Lawrence tributaries.