Golden-tufted Grackle
Macroagelaius imthurni
A medium-sized blackbird of tepui highland forests. Adults are entirely black except for yellow tufts at bend of wing; young birds are dull blackish-gray and lack the tufts. Noisy groups range through montane forest canopy and along savanna edges, probing flowers, leaf bases, and bark crevices; may pause to loaf, preen, and call for extended periods. Makes a variety of squeaking and chuckling calls, many with a strongly metallic quality, unlike any other bird in tepui highlands. Epaulet Oriole is also black and yellow, but note grackle’s yellow pectoral tufts (not shoulders), stockier build, thicker bill, and tendency to occur in single-species flocks.
Identification
A medium-sized blackbird of tepui highland forests. Adults are entirely black except for yellow tufts at bend of wing; young birds are dull blackish-gray and lack the tufts. Noisy groups range through montane forest canopy and along savanna edges, probing flowers, leaf bases, and bark crevices; may pause to loaf, preen, and call for extended periods. Makes a variety of squeaking and chuckling calls, many with a strongly metallic quality, unlike any other bird in tepui highlands. Epaulet Oriole is also black and yellow, but note grackle’s yellow pectoral tufts (not shoulders), stockier build, thicker bill, and tendency to occur in single-species flocks.
Taxonomy
Genus: Macroagelaius; Family: Icteridae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Macroagelaius imthurni
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1881)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Macroagelaius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Fire-eyed Diucon
Pyrope pyrope
A distinctive gray flycatcher of southern South America that is often fairly common and conspicuous. Found in semiopen habitats from open woodland and farmland with taller trees and hedges to matorral, parks, and gardens. Often seen perched on roadside wires and atop trees, singly or in pairs; can be confiding. No similar species in range: note habits, gray upperparts with paler tail, and intense ruby-red eyes, visible with a good view.
Splendid Astrapia
Astrapia splendidissima
A long-tailed bird of montane forest. Black back and white base to the upper tail, more extensive in the male. Male has iridescent blue-green underparts, head and bib with rufous breast band and thin, rufous stripe down the side of the neck. Female has a black head and a barred belly. Feeds on fruit and searches for insects on mossy branches and epiphytes. Range of Ribbon-tailed Astrapia may just meet, but Splendid Astrapia female has white in the base of the upper tail. Call, a clicking sound.
Black-crowned White-eye
Zosterops atrifrons
A small green songbird with a bold white eye-ring, a black forehead, and whitish underparts except for a yellow throat and undertail. Juveniles duller, with less black on forehead. Found in groups, often within mixed-species flocks, in forests, edges, and cultivated areas in lowlands and foothills. Separated from Lemon-bellied White-eye by whitish belly, and from Warbling and Sulawesi White-eyes by black forehead on Black-crowned White-eye. Song variable, comprising short, high-pitched warbles. Also gives chattering and twittering notes as well as “tzew” and repetitive “titititititit” trill calls.
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