Crested Oropendola

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iCrested Oropendola

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Icteridae
Genus:	Psarocolius
Species:	P. decumanus

Binomial name

Psarocolius decumanus
(Pallas, 1769)

The Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus is a New World tropical icterid bird. It is a resident breeder in lowland South America east of the Andes, from Panama and Colombia south to northern Argentina. The form P. d. insularis breeds in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Crested Oropendola inhabits forest edges and clearings. It is a colonial breeder which builds a hanging woven nest, more than 125 cm long, high in a tree. It lays two blotched blue-grey eggs which hatch in 15-19 days, with another 24-36 days to fledging.

Each colony has a dominant male, which mates with most of the females following an elaborate bowing display. There may be 15-30 females and only 3-4 males. Outside he breeding season, this species is quite mobile, with some seasonal movements.

The Crested Oropendola is a common bird, seen alone or in small flocks foraging in trees for large insects, fruit and some nectar. The male is 46 cm long and weighs 300g; the smaller female is 37cm long and weighs 180g.

Adult males are mainly black with a chestnut rump and a tail which is bright yellow apart from two dark central feathers. There is a long narrow crest which is often difficult to see. The iris is blue and the long bill is whitish. Females are similar but smaller, duller, and crestless.

There are four races.

The nominate P. d. decumanus occurs from Colombia south to the Amazon in Brazil.
The northern form P. d. melanterus of Panama and western Colombia is very similar, differing only in the amount of chestnut feather tipping, and is of dubious status.
P. d. insularis has much chestnut edging on the feathers of the wings and back.
P. d. maculosus breeds south of the Amazon. It is browner, and has yellow feathers scattered through the body plumage.

The distinctive songs of the male include a liquid vibrato CreeeEEEoooooooooo. Both sexes have a loud clack call.

The plumage of the Crested Oropendola has a musty smell due to the oil from the preening gland.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Psarocolius decumanus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1
New World Blackbirds by Jaramillo and Burke, ISBN 0-7136-4333-1