Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)

Crested Oropendola

[order] Passeriformes | [family] Icteridae | [latin] Psarocolius decumanus | [UK] Crested Oropendola | [FR] Cassique huppe | [DE] Krahenstirnvogel | [ES] Conoto Yapu | [IT] Oropendola dal ciuffo | [NL] Kuif-oropendola

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range
Psarocolius decumanus SA n, sc, also Panama
Psarocolius decumanus decumanus
Psarocolius decumanus insularis
Psarocolius decumanus maculosus
Psarocolius decumanus melanterus

Physical charateristics

Adult males are mainly black with a chestnut rump and a tail which is bright yellow apart from two dark central feathers. There is a long narrow crest which is often difficult to see. The iris is blue and the long bill is whitish. Females are similar but smaller, duller, and crestless.

Listen to the sound of Crested Oropendola

[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/C/Crested Oropendola.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 40 cm size max.: 46 cm
incubation min.: 15 days incubation max.: 19 days
fledging min.: 24 days fledging max.: 36 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 2  
      eggs max.: 3  

Range

It is a resident breeder in lowland South America east of the Andes, from Panama and Colombia south to northern Argentina, as well as on Trinidad and Tobago.

Habitat

They occur in temperate forests, jungles, grasslands, savannas, and marshes.

Reproduction

The Crested Oropendola inhabits forest edges and clearings. It is a colonial breeder which builds a hanging woven nest, more than 125 cm long, high in a tree. It lays two blotched blue-grey eggs which hatch in 15-19 days, with another 24-36 days to fledging. Each colony has a dominant male, which mates with most of the females following an elaborate bowing display. There may be 15-30 females and only 3-4 males.

Feeding habits

Oropendolas are omnivorous and eat a variety of insects, seeds, and fruit.

Conservation

This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 11,000,000 km². The global population size has not been quantified, but it is believed to be large as the species is described as ‘common’ in at least parts of its range (Stotz et al. 1996). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Crested Oropendola status Least Concern

Migration

Resident during the breeding season. Outside he breeding season, this species is quite mobile, with some seasonal movements.

Distribution map

Crested Oropendola range map

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