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New World Blackbird
Icterids () or New World blackbirds make up a family, the Icteridae (), of small to medium-sized, often colorful, New World passerine birds. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. The species in the family vary widely in size, shape, behavior, and coloration. The name, meaning "jaundiced ones" (from the prominent yellow feathers of many species) comes from the Ancient Greek ''ikteros'' via the Latin ''ictericus''. This group includes the New World blackbirds, New World orioles, the bobolink, meadowlarks, Quiscalus, grackles, cowbirds, oropendolas, and cacique (bird), caciques. Despite the similar names, the first groups are only distantly related to the Old World common blackbird (a thrush (bird), thrush) or the Old World orioles. The Icteridae are not to be confused with the Icteriidae, a family created in 2017 and consisting of one species — the yellow-breasted chat (''Icteria virens''). Characteristics Most icter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bullock's Oriole
Bullock's oriole (''Icterus bullockii'') is a small New World blackbird. At one time, this species and the Baltimore oriole were considered to be a single species, the northern oriole. This bird is named after William Bullock, an English amateur naturalist. Description Bullock's orioles are sexually dimorphic, with males being more brightly colored than females. In addition, adult males tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females. Measurements: * Length: 6.7-7.5 in (17-19 cm) * Weight: 1.0-1.5 oz (29-43 g) * Wingspan: 12.2 in (31 cm) Adults have a pointed bill with a straight culmen. In adult males, the tail is long, square, and jet black. All exposed skin is black, as are the claws and bill, though the base of the lower mandible lightens to bluish-gray. Adult males are characterized by strongly contrasting orange and black plumage, a black throat patch, and a white wing bar. The underparts, breast, and face are orange or yellow; by contrast, the back, wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old World Oriole
The Old World orioles (Oriolidae) are an Old World family of passerine birds. Taxonomy and systematics The family Oriolidae comprises the piopios, figbirds, pitohuis and the Old World orioles. The piopios were added 2011, having been formerly placed in the family Turnagridae. Several other genera have been proposed to split up the genus ''Oriolus''. For example, the African black-headed species are sometimes placed in a separate genus, ''Baruffius''. The family Oriolidae is not related to the New World orioles, despite their similar size, diet, behaviour and contrasting plumage patterns. Rather, these similarities are an example of convergent evolution. Extant genera There are three extant genera in the family ''Oriolidae'': Extinct genera There are at least two extinct genera in the family ''Oriolidae'': * Genus '' Turnagra'' – piopios (2 extinct species) * Genus '' Longmornis'' – ''Longmornis robustirostrata'' Description The orioles and figbirds are medium-sized pas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kinglet Calyptura
The kinglet calyptura (''Calyptura cristata'') is a small passerine bird. It is the only member of the genus ''Calyptura'' in the family Tyrannidae. It had traditionally been considered a member of the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil. For a long time this species was feared to be extinct, as it went unrecorded during the 20th century until two birds were observed in Serra dos Órgãos on several days in October 1996. Since these sightings, there have not been any confirmed records, although at least one recent—but unconfirmed—record exists from near Ubatuba. Consequently, it is considered Critically Endangered by BirdLife International. Taxonomy The kinglet calyptura was initially described as ''Pardalotus cristatus'' by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1818 in the ''Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle'' on the basis of a specimen collected near Rio de Janeiro. It was later placed in the monotypic genus ''Calyptura'', whose n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amazonian Oropendola
The olive oropendola (''Psarocolius bifasciatus'') is the largest member of the icterid family and rivals the Amazonian umbrellabird as the largest passerine bird in South America. It is sometimes placed in the genus '' Gymnostinops'' instead of '' Psarocolius''. As suggested by its name, it is found widely – but often in low densities – throughout humid lowland forests of the Amazon Basin, with the notable exception of most of the Guiana Shield. It is sometimes split into two species, the western olive oropendola (''P. yuracares'') and the eastern Pará oropendola (''P. bifasciatus''), but the subspecies ''P. y. neivae'' is widely recognized as a hybrid swarm, and the vast majority of authorities consider them a single species. Description The sexes of this icterid are very different in size: the male is 52 cm (21 in) long and weighs 550 g (1.2 lbs); the smaller female is 41 cm (16 in) long and weighs 260 g (9.2 oz). Confusingly, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orchard Oriole
The orchard oriole (''Icterus spurius'') is the smallest species of icterid. The subspecies of the Caribbean coast of Mexico, ''I. s. fuertesi'', is sometimes considered a separate species, the ochre oriole or Fuertes's oriole. Description Measurements: * Length: 5.9-7.1 in (15-18 cm) * Weight: 0.6-1.0 oz (16-28 g) * Wingspan: 9.8 in (25 cm) The bill is pointed and black with some blue-gray at the base of the lower mandible (Howell and Webb 1995). The adult male of the nominate subspecies has chestnut on the underparts, shoulder, and rump, with the rest of the plumage black. In the subspecies ''I. s. fuertesi'', the chestnut is replaced with ochre (Howell and Webb 1995). The adult female and the juvenile of both subspecies have olive-green on the upper parts and yellowish on the breast and belly. All adults have pointed bills and white wing bars. (Orchard orioles are considered to be adults after their second year.) One-year-old males are yellow-greenish with a black bib. Hab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Great-tailed Grackle
The great-tailed grackle or Mexican grackle (''Quiscalus mexicanus'') is a medium-sized, highly social passerine bird native to North and South America. A member of the family Icteridae, it is one of 10 extant species of grackle and is closely related to the boat-tailed grackle and the extinct slender-billed grackle. In the southern United States, it is sometimes simply referred to as "blackbird" or (erroneously) "crow" due to its glossy black plumage, and similarly it is often called ("raven") in some parts of Mexico, although it is not a member of the crow genus ''Corvus'', nor even of the family Corvidae. Description Great-tailed grackles are medium-sized birds (larger than starlings and smaller than crows; -) with males weighing - and females between -, and both sexes have long tails. Wingspan ranges from 18.9-22.8 in (48-58 cm). Males are iridescent black with a purple-blue sheen on the feathers of the head and upper body, while females are brown with darker wings and tai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sexual Dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most animals and some plants. Differences may include secondary sex characteristics, size, weight, colour, markings, or behavioural or cognitive traits. These differences may be subtle or exaggerated and may be subjected to sexual selection and natural selection. The opposite of dimorphism is ''monomorphism'', which is when both biological sexes are phenotypically indistinguishable from each other. Overview Ornamentation and coloration Common and easily identified types of dimorphism consist of ornamentation and coloration, though not always apparent. A difference in coloration of sexes within a given species is called sexual dichromatism, which is commonly seen in many species of birds and reptiles. Sexual selection leads to the exaggerated ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Euphagus Cyanocephalus Male Gaping
''Euphagus'' is a small genus of American blackbirds. It contains two extant species: Brewer's blackbird, ''Euphagus cyanocephalus'', and rusty blackbird ''E. carolinus''. The living species are very similar medium-sized birds. Adult males have mainly black plumage and a bright yellow eye; females are dark gray-brown. Extant species A prehistoric relative, the large-billed blackbird (''Euphagus magnirostris''), is known from Late Pleistocene fossils found in the famous tar seeps of Rancho La Brea, California, as well as the Talara Tar Seeps of northwestern Peru and the Mene de Inciarte Tar Seep of Venezuela. It may have been a close associate of Pleistocene megafauna communities and went extinct following the collapse of the megafauna populations. Description Both are migratory, wintering in the southern United States and Mexico, although some Brewer's blackbirds are present all year in the western US. They build cup nests, and the female alone incubates the eggs. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird Migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by humans, and is driven primarily by the availability of food. It occurs mainly in the northern hemisphere, where birds are funneled onto specific routes by natural barriers such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Caribbean Sea. Migration of species such as storks, turtle doves, and swallows was recorded as many as 3,000 years ago by Ancient Greek authors, including Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job. More recently, Johannes Leche began recording dates of arrivals of spring migrants in Finland in 1749, and modern scientific studies have used techniques including bird ringing and satellite tracking to trace migrants. Threats to migratory birds have grown with habitat destruction, especially of stopover and wintering sites, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico covers ,Mexico ''''. . making it the world's 13th-largest country by are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuela to the east and northeast, Brazil to the southeast, Ecuador and Peru to the south and southwest, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Panama to the northwest. Colombia is divided into 32 departments and the Capital District of Bogotá, the country's largest city. It covers an area of 1,141,748 square kilometers (440,831 sq mi), and has a population of 52 million. Colombia's cultural heritage—including language, religion, cuisine, and art—reflects its history as a Spanish colony, fusing cultural elements brought by immigration from Europe and the Middle East, with those brought by enslaved Africans, as well as with those of the various Amerindian civilizations that predate colonization. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Long-tailed Meadowlark
The long-tailed meadowlark (''Leistes loyca'') is a passerine bird of southern South America and the Falkland Islands, belonging to the meadowlark genus ''Leistes'' in the icterid family that looks very similar to the related endangered species, the Pampas meadowlark. It is 25 to 28 cm long with a fairly long tail and a long, pointed bill. The male is mostly dark brown with blackish streaking. The breast and throat are bright red and there is a white spot on the face near the base of the bill. The bold supercilium is white behind the eye and red in front of it. Females are paler than the males with the red markings restricted to a wash on the belly and the supercilium and throat are buff. It breeds in southern Chile and southern and western parts of Argentina. Some birds migrate northwards in winter. An endemic subspecies, ''L. loyca falklandica'', occurs in the Falkland Islands, where it is known as the military starling. Long-tailed meadowlarks are found in open habita ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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