Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus)

Order: Passeriformes  | Family: Icteridae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

velvet-fronted-grackle
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Eastern Colombia

velvet-fronted-grackle
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Eastern Colombia

velvet-fronted-grackle
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Eastern Colombia

velvet-fronted-grackle
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Trinidad, Bolivia


Identification & Behavior: ~22 cm (8.6 in). (male), 20 cm (7.8 in) (female). The Velvet-fronted Grackle is solid black. The iris is dark. The bill is black. The tail is relatively long. It forages in the midstory of mature Amazonian forests generally in family groups. It is similar to the Solitary Black Cacique but is distinguished by a slender body, comparatively longer tail, black bill, and by foraging in family groups.

Status: The Velvet-fronted Grackle is uncommon to rare and widespread in Amazonia. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Clarinero de Frente Aterciopelada.

Sub-species: Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus tanagrinus), (Spix), 1824.

Meaning of Name: Lampropsar: Gr. Lampros= brilliant and psar, psaros= starling. tanagrinus: L. tanagrinus  tanager-like.

See more of the Family Icteridae   peru aves

Distribution Map
velvet-fronted_grackleVoice


References:

    • Species range 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 03/01/2016.