Golden-winged Cacique

About the Golden-winged Cacique

The golden-winged cacique (Cacicus chrysopterus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The golden-winged cacique has a complicated taxonomic history. It was formally described in 1825 with the binomial Xanthornus Chrysopterus [sic]. In the first half of the twentieth century it was known as Archiplanus albirostris. When Archiplanus was merged into the current genus Cacicus later in the century, the binomial "Cacicus albirostris" already applied to another species so by the principle of priority the golden-winged cacique's specific epithet was returned to chrysopterus.

The golden-winged cacique is monotypic. Male golden-winged caciques are about 21 cm (8.3 in) long and females about 19 cm (7.5 in). Males weigh about 35 to 47 g (1.2 to 1.7 oz) and females about 30 to 34 g (1.1 to 1.2 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults are almost entirely black. Their lower rump and their median and inner greater wing coverts are bright yellow. They have a pearly white to yellow iris, a pale bluish gray bill, and... Wikipedia →