Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)

Order: Suliformes | Family: Anhingidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

crested oropendola
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil

crested oropendola
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil

crested oropendola
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil

crested oropendola
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil


Identification & Behavior: Males (46-47.7 cm) (18-18.5 in), Females (36-37 cm) (14-14.5 in). The Crested Oropendola is large and all black. The bill is heavy and pearly white in color. The iris is sky blue. It has an inconspicuous wispy hair-like crest. As with other oropendolas, the Crested Oropendola has a bright golden yellow tail with a central dark pair of feathers. The heavy wing beats are audible from birds in flight. It is the only large and black Oropendola. The Crested Oropendola superficially resembles a Band-tailed Oropendola but it is much larger.

Status: The Crested Oropendola is common in the forest canopy, forest edges, and second growth. Often forage in the company of other oropendolas and caciques. Mostly in lowlands Amazonia up to 1,000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Ch,

Name is Spanish: Oropéndola Crestada

Subspecies:  Psarocolius decumanus decumanus (Pallas), 1769.
– Psarocolius decumanus maculosus (Chapman), 1920.

Meaning of Name: 
Psarocolius: Gr. Psar= the starling; Koloios= resembles a crow.
decumanus L. a legionnaire, refers to the dagger or sword like bill and shield-like Casqued of the Crested Oropendola.

Go to Family Icteridae    peru aves

DISTRIBUTION MAP

Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus
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OICE


References:

    • Range shown based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum.  
      http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 7/09/2014.

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