Black Oropendola

About the Black Oropendola

The black oropendola (Psarocolius guatimozinus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Colombia and Panama. The black oropendola was formally described in 1853 with the binomial Ostinops guatimozinus. The specific epithet guatimozinus derives from Guatemozin, who was a nephew of Montezuma and last Aztec emperor. Some early twentieth century authors placed the species in genus Gymnostinops, which was later merged into the current Psarocolius. Some authors have suggested that the black oropendola, the Baudo oropendola (P. cassini), and the olive oropendola (P. bifasciatus) should be merged as a single species.

The black oropendola is monotypic. Male black oropendolas are about 47 cm (19 in) long and females about 39 cm (15 in). Adult males have long black feathers on their nape that form a crest. Females have a shorter crest but are otherwise like males except for their smaller size. Adults are mostly black. They have a patch of bare pale blue skin on their face and a pink wattle at the base of the bill. Their scapulars, upperwing coverts, lower back, rump... Wikipedia →