Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusDives (Melodious and Scrub Blackbirds)
- SpeciesDives dives (Melodious Blackbird)
About the Melodious Blackbird
The melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found from Mexico to Costa Rica. The melodious blackbird was formally described in 1830 with the binomial Icterus dives. It now shares the genus Dives with the scrub blackbird (D. warczewiczi). The two form a superspecies and some early twentieth century authors treated them as conspecific.
The melodious blackbird is monotypic. Male melodious blackbirds average 25.5 cm (10 in) long and weigh 98.3 to 102 g (3.5 to 3.6 oz). Females average 23 cm (9.1 in) long and weigh 83.4 to 95.9 g (2.9 to 3.4 oz). The species has a long tail and disproportionately large legs and feet. The sexes have the same plumage: Adults are entirely black with blue and purple iridescence. They have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and black legs and feet. Juveniles are a duller, non-glossy, brownish black.
The melodious blackbird is found from southern Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico south on the Gulf of Mexico slope almost to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and from there on both the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Melodious Blackbird in Lago de Yojoa
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Lago de Yojoa
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Altamira Oriole
Icterus gularis
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Spot-breasted Oriole
Icterus pectoralis
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Yellow-billed Cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus
Streak-backed Oriole
Icterus pustulatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Melodious Blackbird in Lago de Yojoa?
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Melodious Blackbird sighting in Lago de Yojoa, based on 495 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Melodious Blackbird in Lago de Yojoa?
July has the highest sighting rate for Melodious Blackbird in Lago de Yojoa in our monthly data.