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Oropendolas, caciques, orioles and blackbirds make up the family Icteridae. They are small to medium-sized birds that have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The family is extremely varied in size, shape, behavior and coloration. The majority of icterid species live in the tropics, although there are a number of temperate forms. One unusual morphological adaptation shared by the icterids is gaping, where the skull is configured to allow them open their bills strongly rather than passively, allowing them to force open gaps to obtain otherwise hidden food. Icterids have adapted to taking a wide range of foods. Oropendolas and caciques use their
gaping motion to open the skins of fruit to obtain the soft insides, and have long bills adapted to the process. Others such as cowbirds and the bobolink have shorter stubbier bills for crushing seeds. The nesting habits of these birds are similarly variable, including pendulous woven nests in the oropendolas and orioles. Many icterids nest in colonies. Some cowbird species engage in brood parasitism: females lay their eggs in the nests of other species, in a similar fashion to some cuckoos. There are 16 genera and 35 species within the family Icteridae known to occur in Peru. Photo: Peruvian Meadowlark ©Javier Colmenares.
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| Family ICTERIDAE | ||
| New World Blackbirds | Oropendolas, Tordos, Caciques | |
| Russet-backed Oropendola | Oropéndola de Dorso Bermejo | Psarocolius angustifrons |
| Dusky-green Oropendola | Oropéndola Verde Oscuro | Psarocolius atrovirens |
| Green Oropendola | Oropéndola Verde | Psarocolius viridis |
| Crested Oropendola | Oropéndola Crestada | Psarocolius decumanus |
| Olive Oropendola | Oropéndola Olivácea | Psarocolius bifasciatus |
| Casqued Oropendola | Oropéndola de Casquete | Clypicterus oseryi |
| Band-tailed Oropendola | Oropéndola de Cola Bandeada | Ocyalus latirostris |
| Mountain Cacique | Cacique Montañes | Cacicus chrysonotus |
| Ecuadorian Cacique | Cacique Ecuatoriano | Cacicus sclateri |
| Selva Cacique | Cacique de Koepcke | Cacicus koepckeae (E) |
| Solitary Black Cacique | Cacique Solitario | Cacicus solitarius |
| Yellow-rumped Cacique | Cacique de Lomo Amarillo | Cacicus cela |
| Red-rumped Cacique | Cacique de Lomo Rojo | Cacicus haemorrhous |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacique de Lomo Escarlata | Cacicus uropygialis |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | Cacique de Pico Amarillo | Amblycercus holosericeus |
| Orange-backed Troupial | Turpial de Dorso Naranja | Icterus croconotus |
| White-edged Oriole | Bolsero de Filos Blancos | Icterus graceannae |
| Yellow-tailed Oriole | Bolsero de Cola Amarilla | Icterus mesomelas |
| Epaulet Oriole | Bolsero de Hombro Pintado | Icterus cayanensis |
| Moriche Oriole | Bolsero Moriche | Icterus chrysocephalus |
| Scrub Blackbird | Tordo de Matorral | Dives warszewiczi |
| Oriole Blackbird | Tordo Oriol | Gymnomystax mexicanus |
| Velvet-fronted Grackle | Clarinero de Frente Aterciopelada | Lampropsar tanagrinus |
| Chopi Blackbird | Tordo Chopí | Gnorimopsar chopi |
| Pale-eyed Blackbird | Tordo de Ojo Pálido | Agelasticus xanthophthalmus |
| Unicolored Blackbird | Tordo Unicolor | Agelasticus cyanopus (V) |
| Yellow-winged Blackbird | Tordo de Ala Amarilla | Agelasticus thilius |
| Yellow-hooded Blackbird | Tordo de Capucha Amarilla | Chrysomus icterocephalus |
| Giant Cowbird | Tordo Gigante | Molothrus oryzivorus |
| Shiny Cowbird | Tordo Brilloso | Molothrus bonariensis |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Clarinero de Cola Grande | Quiscalus mexicanus |
| Red-breasted Blackbird | Pecho Colorado Grande | Leistes militaris |
| White-browed Blackbird | Pecho Colorado de Ceja Blanca | Leistes superciliaris (NB) |
| Peruvian Meadowlark | Pecho Colorado Peruano | Leistes bellicosa |
| Bobolink | Tordo Arrocero | Dolichonyx oryzivorus (NB) |
 PARULIDAE: Warblers – Reinitas |
FRINGILLIDAE: Siskins & Euphonias – Jilgueros, Eufonias |