Birds of Brazil

    PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae (Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds)  
Genus: Psarocolius (4 species, 9 worldwide)

Genus Psarocolius, Oropendolas, are very large blackbirds, around 40 cm., which travel and nest in groups, and weave hanging nests made from long plant fibers.



Russet-backed Oropendola
Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons salmoni)
ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A large Oropendola, often common and conspicuous. Look for hanging nests near clearings. Amazon races don't have yellow crown, and are more uniform in color. Bill ranges from pinkish to yellow or orange. And there is a black-billed race in the eastern Andes.
Gathering filaments for nest.
Eastern foothill subspecies with black bill.
Pink-billed individual.
A possible immature of an Amazonian race.

Olive Oropendola
Olive Oropendola (Psarocolius bifasciatus neivae)
Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Mato Grosso, Brazil  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

Very large.


Crested Oropendola
Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus decumanus)
Minca, Magdalena, Colombia
  Seen here making the distinctive oropendola sound, which includes wing flapping.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Note ivory bill and mostly black color. Often found where the same-sized but brown Russet-backed Oropendola is not. Oropendola move in groups and build hanging weaved nests in palm trees.
At a nest.

Green Oropendola
Green Oropendola (Psarocolius viridis)
 
   
Photograph by circadian.fire     Copyright and usage info

Note pink bill tip (bill colors are a good way to identify oropendolas).


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