Oriole Blackbird (Gymnomystax mexicanus)

Identification & Behavior: Male 30.5 cm (12 in), Female 26.5 cm (10.5 in). The Oriole Blackbird is yellow with black back and tail. Sexes are alike. The juvenile is paler yellow with a black crown patch. The Oriole Blackbird forages in pairs or flocks on or near the ground along river edges, sandbars, river islands, wet grasslands, and similar habitats. It is superficially similar to the smaller Orange-backed Troupial but is distinguished by not having a black bib, a larger size, and by foraging in non-forest habitats.

Status: The Oriole Blackbird is common along rivers in the eastern lowlands. It is also known to occur at higher elevations along the Utcubamba River in Amazonas Peru.

Subspecies: Oriole Blackbird (Gymnomystax mexicanus), (Linnaeus), 1766.

Meaning of Name: 
Gymnomystax: Gr. Gumnos=bare, naked; mustax=a moustache. mexicanus: After Mexico or having been described from Mexico. In error, this bird was described from French Guiana.

See more of the Family Icteridae