Venezuelan Troupial
Icterus icterus
A brilliant and brash resident of thornscrub, cactus forests and other arid landscapes. Rather large-headed, often sporting a short shaggy crest, with a blue teardrop of bare skin around each eye, thus differing from most other orioles. Also note the long white slash on each wing. The Baltimore Oriole is passingly similar, but it is smaller, less bulky, and has less black on the chest than Venezuelan Troupial. Vocalizations are mostly loud and flutelike. They include an upward inflected “chu-wee,” a down slurred “shee-oo,” a quick series “thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, chu-eee, che-ee, chu-ee,” and “Chu-oo-eee-o.”
Identification
Venezuelan troupials are fairly large in size, with a long tail and a bulky bill. It has a black head and upper breast. The feathers on the front of the neck and upper breast stick outward, making an uneven boundary between the black and the orange of the bird's lower breast and underside. The rest of the orange color is found on the upper and lower back, separated by the black shoulders. The wings are mostly black except for a white streak that runs the length of the wing when in a closed position. The eyes are yellow, and surrounding each one, there is a patch of bright, blue, naked skin.<p>There are three subspecies: I. i. icterus, I. i. ridgwayi, and I. i. metai. Individuals of I. i. metae have more orange on the back and a black line that divides the lengthwise white wing-stripe in half. Individuals of I. i. ridgwayi are generally stronger and larger in proportion to the other subspecies.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icterus icterus
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
Venezuelan troupial inhabit dry areas like woodlands, gallery forest, dry scrub, plains, and open savanna, where they forage mainly Giant Cacti Fruit, making up the majority of their diet whilst in season. However they also forage other fruits such as mangoes, sapodillas, papaya, soursop, dates and malphighia cherries. They have also been known to eat the juvenile birds and unhatched eggs of the nests they attack.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Their mating behavior can be expressed as defensive in both males and females. Although males usually sing as a sign of attracting females or defending themselves from unwanted/competing troupials. Duetting behavior in these particular birds is meant to defend their territories and maintain contact (communication). Males also approach this behavior during paternity guarding contexts, as this species' behavior is consistent in breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Their defending behavior was exclusively related to troupials having couples, as their partners usually elicit stronger vocals and physical responses.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Northern Emerald-Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Medium-sized, grass-green toucan of humid tropical forest in foothills and highlands; also very locally in lowlands. Usually in pairs or small groups, moving through the canopy or feeding at fruiting trees. Nothing similar in its range. Note the rusty tail tips, best seen from below. Pattern of black and yellow on bill varies from region to region.
Mindanao Heleia
Heleia goodfellowi
A fairly small bird of montane forest on Mindanao. Olive on the upperparts, darker in the wing and tail, with a blackish mask, dingy yellow underparts, and a pale gray throat. Usually found in mixed-species flocks with Cinnamon Ibon, Mountain White-eye, and Black-and-cinnamon Fantail. Similar to Yellow-bellied Whistler, but usually found at higher elevations, and has a thinner bill and dark mask. Gives a musical whistle and also a harsh grating call.
White-browed Purpletuft
Iodopleura isabellae
Attractive, small, chocolate brown-and-white bird of lowland rainforest. Bold facial pattern is distinctive; purple tufts on the flanks are often hidden, but diagnostic when visible. Usually perches singly or in pairs high up in the forest canopy, and can be easiest to see around the edges of forest clearings. Fairly quiet, usually giving only high, unobtrusive “seet” notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.