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OROPENDOLAS (GENUS PSAROCOLIUS)

(3 species). Large, social, arboreal ‘blackbirds’

with stout pointed bills, bright yellow tail sides. Ages differ slightly, soon attain adult appearance; sexes

similar in plumage but males much larger than females. Colonies of woven pendulous nests conspicuous,

often attended by brood-parasite Giant Cowbirds (p. 430).

CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA  Psarocolius wagleri Male 34–38cm,

female 25–29cm. Medium-size dark oropendola of humid forest and edge;

colonies typically at edges, often in isolated trees. Flight rather quick with deep

swooping wingbeats that make hollow rushing sound, quite different from

measured flight of large oropendolas. Usually in small groups, feeding in fruit­

ing and flowering trees where clambers actively; visits feeders. Juv. has duller

eyes and bill, back and wings lack sheen of adult. SOUNDS: Varied throaty

clucks and low chatters, often more guttural than Montezuma Oropendola.

Low, slightly gurgling chuk-uk-luk; nasal kyah; slightly nasal clucking chéuh.

Song a deep gurgled w’shLOK, and variations, repeated. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on

Caribbean slope to 1700m, especially foothills; scarce locally in interior valleys of s. Pacific slope. (Mexico

to w. Ecuador.)

MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA  Psarocolius montezuma Male 45–51cm, female

37–41cm. Distinctive, very large (male much larger than female) and colorful

inhabitant of lowland forest edge, woodland, semi-open country with

hedgerows, scattered trees; colonies typically in isolated trees. Flight unhurried

and steady with measured rowing wingbeats, usually at treetop height and often

across open areas in well-spaced flocks. Mainly at mid–upper levels in fruiting

and flowering trees, singly or in small groups; visits feeders. In display, male

swings upside-down on perch, spreading wings and fanning tail. Juv. duller

overall, underparts sooty blackish. SOUNDS: Varied. Low chuk often given in

flight; squeaky woik; sneezy rrúh-rrúh; and varied gruff hollow clucking series. Song memorable: a bizarre,

hollow gurgling and gobbling crescendo, ending abruptly, 1–1.5 secs; likened to pouring wine from an

upended bottle and sometimes followed by a thin upslurred whistle; raspy wing rattles in display.

STATUS: Fairly common to common on Caribbean slope; uncommon to fairly common locally on Pacific

slope, where range is expanding; locally to 1800m. (Mexico to Panama.)

CRESTED OROPENDOLA  Psarocolius decumanus Male 42–46cm, female

32–36cm. Recent arrival (from adjacent Panama) on s. Pacific slope, where

found in semi-open country with hedgerows, forest patches, plantations, open

woodland. Mainly in small groups moving through canopy, flying across

clearings with steady flight and slightly rowing wingbeats unlike faster, sweeping

flight of smaller Chestnut-headed Oropendola, which is more of a forest-based

bird. Also note Crested’s blackish head, concolorous with body; crest is wispy,

inconspicuous (Chestnut-headed has similar crest). SOUNDS:  Varied gruff

clucks and a quiet nasal whoih. Song a downslurred wheezy whistle overlain by

a clucking mechanical rattle, about 1.5 secs, at times ending with an emphatic note; also an accelerating,

short clucking or popping series ending with a slightly explosive whistle and pop. STATUS: Uncommon

and local, but increasing, on s. Pacific slope, especially around San Vito, 100–1500m; first recorded Costa

Rica in 1999. (Costa Rica to S America.)