Olive Oropendola
Psarocolius bifasciatus
Large, dark oropendola of mature rainforest. Olive green with reddish brown wings and a bright yellow tail. Bill is black with colorful pink patch at the base and an orange tip. More likely to be found in mature upland forest than the similar Russet-backed Oropendola of open habitats. Nests colonially, building large hanging nests in the crowns of tall trees in the canopy.
Identification
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 name "olive oropendola" is usually used for this combined species, despite the fact that the nominate subspecies has no olive to its plumage, as its head and chest are black (these are olive in P. b. yuracares). The back, wings and belly of this large oropendola are brown, the outer rectrices are yellow (i.e. tail appears all yellow from below), the bare facial skin is pink, the eyes are brown, and the bill is black with an orange tip. The superficially similar green oropendola has an olive back and wing-coverts, lacks extensive bare facial-skin, has a pale bill with an orange tip, and blue eyes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Psarocolius bifasciatus
- Authority
- (Spix, 1824)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Psarocolius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The olive oropendola is a canopy bird that most often is seen flying high over the tops of the trees. Compared to other oropendolas it is a "loner" most frequently seen alone or in pairs, and drawing less attention to itself than its cousins, despite the greater size. Small groups are seen occasionally, and may even mix with other oropendolas. The breeding colonies are small, usually with fewer than five birds. The nest is a hanging woven ball fibers and vines, 60–180 cm long, high in a tree. Relatively little is known about these bird's breeding habits.<p>The omnivorous diet appears to be fairly catholic. They may eat small vertebrates (especially amphibians and reptiles), large insects, nectar, and fruit. They often travel great distances through the forests, except when lingering around their nesting colony.<p>The song of the olive oropendola is a liquid, gurgling and "expanding" stek-ek-ek-ek-eh-eh-eh-o'o 'GLOOP!, given as a displaying male falls forward on a perch and rustles his wings over the back. Nasal raap and whrup calls are given while in flight or when foraging.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Donaldson Smith's Sparrow-Weaver
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A large and distinctively marked weaver. There is a dark cap above a pale cheek and throat that are separated by a black moustache stripe. The bright white rump is distinctive in flight. Found locally in dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub. Somewhat similar to White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, but easily separated by the different head pattern and the streaked rather than pure white underparts. The song is a rapid jumble of whistles and scratchy notes.
White-tipped Sicklebill
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This streaky hummingbird has a remarkably decurved bill like a Velociraptor claw. The bill shape alone distinguishes it from all hummingbirds except the very similar Buff-tailed Sicklebill, which only overlaps in some areas of the range. Look at the tail pattern to separate the two species: White-tipped is well-named with only white tips on the tail feathers, while Buff-tailed has more extensive buff on the outer tail feathers. Sicklebills are most often seen feeding on Heliconia flowers in the dark forest understory; they’re generally uncommon and fast-moving, difficult to get a look at. Does not visit feeders.
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