Band-tailed Oropendola

About the Band-tailed Oropendola

The band-tailed cacique (Cacicus latirostris) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The band-tailed cacique has a complicated taxonomic history. It was formally described in 1838 with its current binomial Cacicus latirostris. Various twentieth century authors placed it in either genus Ocyalus or genus Psarocolius. By the twenty-first century Psarocolius was no longer used and in the 2010s Ocyalus was merged into Cacicus. During its time as Ocyalus latirostris it was called the "band-tailed oropendola".

The band-tailed cacique is monotypic. Male band-tailed caciques average about 33 cm (13 in) long and 118 g (4.2 oz). Females average about 24.5 cm (9.6 in) long and 75 g (2.6 oz). The sexes have essentially the same plumage though females are a duller black than males. Adults are mostly velvety black. Their crown, nape, and upper back are chestnut and their wings have a bluish gloss. Their central tail feathers are black and the rest are yellow with black tips. They have a pale blue iris and black legs and feet. Their... Wikipedia →