Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Fairly common in semi-open habitats of tropical lowlands, usually in pairs or small groups. Feeds on the ground and in trees, often flipping its tail sharply upwards; may associate loosely with grackles, but usually not mixed in with other blackbids. Distinctive but lacks obvious field marks: plumage is wholly black with a slight velvety sheen; note the sharply pointed bill, and dark eyes.
Identification
The adult is a medium-sized blackbird with a rounded tail. The male is 25.5 cm (10.0 in) long and weighs 108 g (3.8 oz). The slightly smaller female is 23 cm (9.1 in) long and weighs 95 g (3.4 oz). The adult plumage is entirely black with a bluish gloss, and the bill, legs and feet are also black. The iris is brown. Females are identically plumaged to the males; young birds are brownish black and lack iridescence. There are no subspecies.<p>The song is a duet between pairs, with a see note, followed by a whit and a northern cardinal-like whistle. The call is a metallic puitt.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Dives dives
- Authority
- (Deppe, 1830)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Dives
Range and habitat
D. dives is a resident breeder from coastal eastern and south-eastern Mexico to Costa Rica. Its range is expanding. El Salvador was colonized in the 1950s, and eastern Guatemala in the 1960s. Prior to 1989 there was only one Costa Rican record, but it is now easily seen at least as far south as San José, and it is expected to colonize Panama.<p>The melodious blackbird inhabits a wide range of habitats, but avoids dense forest and thick undergrowth. It has adapted to human habitation and can be seen in gardens and on lawns. The melodious blackbird forages mainly on the ground for insects but will also take nectar and ripening maize ears as well as other plants, such as the fruits of the gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) and Trophis racemosa.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Breeding birds are highly territorial, and adults will attack predators like the brown jay, but small flocks form outside the nesting season. A breeding pair will give a display in which each bird spreads its tail, extends its wings, and ruffles its plumage.<p>Both sexes build a cup nest of plant material 3–7 m (9.8–23.0 ft) high in a bush or tree and line it with mud and dung. The female lays three or four brown-blotched blue eggs, which she incubates alone, although the male helps with feeding the chicks. This species is not known to be parasitised by cowbirds, which presumably has also contributed to its success.
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Massive seabird, but relatively small and slender for an albatross. Breeds on islands in the Southern Indian ocean from Marion and Prince Edward to Amsterdam and St. Paul. Ranges mainly at subtropical latitudes in the Indian Ocean, from South Africa to Australia, rarely to New Zealand. On adult, note soft gray cheek, typically much less extensive than hood of Atlantic Yellow-nosed. Young birds mostly white-headed with limited gray around eye; some difficult or impossible to separate from Atlantic Yellow-nosed. Bill is long, thin, and black, with yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge (culmen) on adults. Also look for thicker black leading edge on underwing to help separate from White-capped Albatross at a distance. Also compare with Gray-headed and Black-browed Albatross; note underwing pattern, bill pattern, head color.
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