Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

Identification & Behavior: ~28 cm (11 in) (male), 23 cm (9 in) (female). The Red-rumped Cacique is solid black with a bright red rump. The iris is blue. The bill is pale yellowish. The tail and upper and undertail coverts are solid black. It is very similar to a Scarlet-rumped Cacique by is distinguished by ranging at lower elevation in Amazonia and a larger size. The Red-rumped Cacique generally forages in the forest canopy.

Status: The Red-rumped Cacique is uncommon to rare in northern and southern Peru. It appears to be absent or very rare in the middle. It is known to range up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. The Red-rumped Cacique also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Cacique de Lomo Rojo.

Sub-species: Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous pachyrhynchus), Berlepsch, 1889.

Meaning of Name: Cacicus: Spanish Caique= Indian Chief. haemorrhous: Gr. haima, haimatos= blood and orrhos= rump.

See more of the Family Icteridae