Melodious Blackbird
Melodious BlackbirdMelodious BlackbirdMelodious BlackbirdMelodious Blackbird

Melodious Blackbird

Dives dives

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
192 Verified sightings at Ostional Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026
28,520 Verified sightings across all 44 parks From 2019 to 2026
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Great-tailed Grackle
LC

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Baltimore Oriole
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Streak-backed Oriole
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Streak-backed Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus pustulatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Spot-breasted Oriole
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Spot-breasted Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus pectoralis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Bronzed Cowbird
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Bronzed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus aeneus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Orchard Oriole
LC

Orchard Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus spurius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Yellow-billed Cacique
LC

Yellow-billed Cacique

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amblycercus holosericeus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Shiny Cowbird
LC

Shiny Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus bonariensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Rufous-backed Wren
LC

Rufous-backed Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus capistratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
~70%
2 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~70%
3 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~70%
4 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~70%
5 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~60%
6 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~60%
7 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~60%
8 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~60%
9 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~50%
10 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~50%
11 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
12 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~40%
13 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~40%
14 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
15 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
16 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
17 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~40%
18 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
19 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
20 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
21 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
22 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
23 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
24 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
25 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
26 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
27 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
28 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
29 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
30 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
31 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
32 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
33 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
34 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
35 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
36 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
37 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
38 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
39 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
40 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
41 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
43 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Melodious Blackbird in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Melodious Blackbird sighting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge, based on 192 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Melodious Blackbird in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?

May has the highest sighting rate for Melodious Blackbird in Ostional Wildlife Refuge in our monthly data.

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