Casqued Cacique

About the Casqued Cacique

The casqued cacique (Cacicus oseryi) 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, Peru, and possibly Bolivia. The casqued cacique has a complicated taxonomic history. It was formally described in 1849 with its current binomial Cacicus Oseryi [sic]. During the twentieth century it bounced between genera Clypicterus and Psarocolius. By the twenty-first century Psarocolius was no longer used and in the 2010s Clypicterus was merged into Cacicus. During its time as Psarocolius oseryi and Clypicterus oseryi it was called the "casqued oropendola".

The casqued cacique is monotypic. Male casqued caciques average 37 cm (15 in) long and 188 g (6.6 oz). Females average 29 cm (11 in) long and 101 g (3.6 oz). Males have a prominent casque and females a smaller one. The casque's color is usually yellowish gray to olivaceous gray, sometimes ivory-colored with a greenish tinge and a dark gray tip, and sometimes entirely dark gray. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults are mostly rich chestnut. Their tail is mostly dusky olive with bright yellow outer... Wikipedia →