- Source: Scarlet-rumped cacique
The scarlet-rumped cacique (Cacicus microrhynchus) is a passerine bird species in the New World family Icteridae.
Distribution
C. m. microrynchus – Central America
C. m. pacificus – Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
Description
The scarlet-rumped cacique is sexually dimorphic like many Icteridae, though it mainly concerns size in this species. Males are 23 cm (9 in) long and weigh 68 g (2.4 oz), while the female is 20 cm (8 in) long and weighs 53 g (1.9 oz);
This cacique is a slim long-winged bird, with a relatively short tail, blue eyes, and a pale yellow pointed bill. It has mainly black plumage, apart from a scarlet patch on the lower back and upper rump. The female is smaller and a duller black than the male, and the juvenile bird has a brownish tone to the plumage and a brownish-orange rump.
The song of these birds is a pleasant wheee-whee-whee-whee-wheet, but the Pacific cacique has a descending melancholy wheeo-wheeo-wheeo-wheeo, while C. m. microrynchus in the narrowest sense has a burry pleeo; C. m. pacificus has a sweeter keeo or a shree.
Ecology and distribution
Unlike some other caciques they are not usually colonial breeders; like them they have a bag-shaped nest. It is built about 3.5–30 m (11–98 ft) above ground, in a tree which usually also contains an active wasp nest. The bird's nest is 36–64 cm (14–25 in) long, widens at the base, and is suspended from the end of a branch. The normal clutch is two dark-blotched white eggs. The male will assist in feeding the young, but does not incubate.
Footnotes
References
Taxonomy of the birds of the world: The complete checklist. p. 524.
The Complete Birds of the World: Every Species Illustrated. p. 578.
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Scarlet-rumped cacique
- Cacique (bird)
- List of birds by common name
- Icterid
- List of birds of North America
- Soberanía National Park
- List of birds of Costa Rica
- List of birds of Peru
- Fauna of Colombia
- List of least concern birds
