monaco eye birds
Icteridae

Chopi Blackbird

Chopi Blackbird - Gnorimopsar chopi
Copyright: monacoeye • Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Chopi Blackbird
Latin: Gnorimopsar chopi
Other: Tordo chaqueño, tordo charrúa, guira-hú (Es) • Vira-bosta, pássaro-preto (Br)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
Similar: Shiny Cowbird, Screaming Cowbird, Forbes’ Blackbird

The Chopi Blackbird is a completely black bird but can be distinguished from Shiny Cowbirds by its grooved lower mandible. It also often seems to have spiky head feathers.

We saw Chopi Blackbirds in the Pantanal, Chapada das Guimaraes and upstate Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

Below, Chopi Blackbird clearly showing grooved lower bill
Chopi Blackbird - Gnorimopsar chopiMore photos...
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Shiny Cowbird

Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensis
Copyright monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Shiny Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus bonariensis
Other: Vira-bosta (Br) • Tordo (Es), Tordo común, Tordo renegrido
Family: IcteridaeCowbirds
Range: SE USA though C South America, Brazil etc
Similar: Bronzed Cowbird, Screaming Cowbird, Chopi Blackbird

The Shiny Cowbird is one of a few entirely black birds to be found in Brazil. The photo above is a presumed female - the adult male (below) is deep blue-black and shiny.

The Shiny Cowbird’s range covers much of Latin America and has recently extended into Chile and Florida.

It’s usually seen in groups but not always. It tends to walk around on the ground and looks more relaxed than the male Ruby-crowned Tanager. The Chopi Blackbird has a more peaked head and has a grooved bill.

The Shiny Cowbird, not beloved by many birders, is a brood parasite, like the European Cuckoo, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, and in some cases endangering host species survival.

Below, the bird on the right looks like a male Shiny Cowbird, Pantanal, Aug 2011
Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensisMore photos...
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Crested Oropendola

Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crested Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius decumanus
Other: Japu-preto (Br) • Oropéndola crestada, conoto yapú, conoto negro (Es)
Family: IcteridaeOropendolas
Range: Panama to northern Argentina, incl Brazil, Ecuador etc
Similar: Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Band-tailed Oropendola

The Crested Oropendola is the most common Oropendola, often seen at feeders in the Pantanal, Brazil; huge numbers seen returning to roost each evening in the Upper Napo region of eastern Ecuador (photo below); also seen as far west as Chiriqui, Panama (photo lowest) - it is currently expanding northwest into Honduras etc.

The Crested Oropendola has a pale yellow bill, bright blue irises, black body with long yellow undertail feathers, which extend past the 2 black central feathers, and chestnut vent and rump.

Charismatic birds which make wonderful noises and calls and a spectacular display (pic below).

Brazil

Below, Crested Oropendola at fruit feeder, Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011
Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus

Below, presumed juvenile Crested Oropendola (dark iris), Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011
Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus

Below, Crested Oropendola displaying at Rio Clarinho tower, Pantanal, Aug 2011
Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanusMore photos...
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Russet Backed Oropendola

Russet Backed Oropendola - Psarocolius angustifrons
Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, March 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Russet Backed Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius angustifrons
Other: Oropéndola dorsirrojiza (Es)
Family: IcteridaeOropendolas
Range: Andes, incl Ecuador, and Venezuelan coast
Similar:

The Russet-backed Oropendola is the only Oropendola in the Ecuadorian Andes, which makes identification easier there. There are several subspecies, the eastern race has a dark bill, generally, whereas other morphs (south and west) have light bills.

All birds pictured on this page, except the lowest, were taken at the same lodge, San Isidro, on the eastern slope, but even at this one location there appears to be variability in bill colour and plumage (see below). You can get very good views of this bird at San Isidro Lodge.

There were also large numbers Russet-backed Oropendolas seen returning to roost each evening in the Upper Napo region of eastern Ecuador (photo below), I think mixed with Crested Oropendolas; I certainly identified some of each species in the flocks containing many hundreds of birds.

The eastern Russet-backed Oropendola, pictured here, is a dark bird with an olive head, variable bill colour, olive - brownish body and long yellow undertail feathers.


Ecuador

Below, Russet-backed Oropendola at San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, March 2011
Russet Backed Oropendola - Psarocolius angustifronsMore photos...
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Chestnut Headed Oropendola

Chestnut Headed Oropendola - Psarocolius wagleri
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Chestnut Headed Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius wagleri
Other: Oropéndola cabecicastaña (Es)
Family: IcteridaeOropendolas
Range: Mexico to Ecuador
Similar:

I saw a tree full of pendulous Chestnut-headed Oropendola nest on my first day in Cerro Azul. A wonderful sight. And individual birds were not infrequent on forest walks. Pictured above attending a fruit feeder in Canopy Lodge. They make noises like water glooping in a cave! Fantastic blue iris.

Below, Chestnut-headed Oropendola close-up, Panama.
Chestnut Headed Oropendola - Psarocolius wagleri

Below, Chestnut-headed Oropendola nests, Panama.

Chestnut Headed Oropendola - Psarocolius wagleriMore photos...
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Green Oropendola

Green Oropendola - Psarocolius viridis
Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, March 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Green Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius viridis
Other: Oropéndola dorsirrojiza (Es)
Family: IcteridaeOropendolas
Range: Amazonia: Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyanas.
Similar: Olive Oropendola

These were the only views I had of Green Oropendolas - on a small island river in the Upper Napo region of Ecuador. They are identifiable by a pink tip to their light bills. Otherwise mostly olive with long yellow tails and chestnut rump and vent.

Ecuador

Below, Green Oropendola in Upper Napo, Ecuador, March 2011
Green Oropendola - Psarocolius viridisMore photos...
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Solitary Cacique

Solitary Cacique - Cacicus solitarius
Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Clarinho Lodge, Brazil August 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Solitary Cacique
Latin: Cacicus solitarius
Other: Solitary Black Cacique • Boyero negro (Es) • Iraúna-de-bico-branco (Br)
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Similar: Red-rumped Cacique juvenile etc

The Solitary Cacique is a black cacique with pale yellow bill and dark irises. The dark irises are a good identifier, though other juvenile caciques may also have dark irises.

As the name suggests, the Solitary Cacique is likely to be seen singly or in pairs, but not flocks. I saw this individual near Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Below, Solitary Cacique, Rio Clarinho Lodge, Pantanal, August 2011
Solitary Cacique - Cacicus solitariusMore photos...
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Subtropical Cacique

Subtropical Cacique - Cacicus uropygialis
Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, March 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Subtropical Cacique
Latin: Cacicus uropygialis
Other: Cacique subtropical (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Scarlet-rumped Cacique split

The Subtropical Cacique is a red-rumped cacique living in Ecuador and neighbouring Andean countries. Treated here as split from the similar Scarlet-rumped Cacique in Panama, west of the Darien Gap, into Central America.

Below, Subtropical Cacique showing red rump. San Isidro, March 2011.
Subtropical Cacique - Cacicus uropygialisMore photos...
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Scarlet Rumped Cacique

Scarlet Rumped Cacique - Cacicus microrhynchus
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Scarlet Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus microrhynchus
Other: Arrendajo cola escarlata, plío, sargento, cacique de rabadilla roja (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Honduras to Panama
Similar: Subtropical Cacique split

Here the Scarlet-rumped Cacique, refers only to the bird mostly west of the Darien Gap: Panama, Honduras etc. Also found in western Ecuador (pic below). The red rump is often not visible when perched.

Below: Scarlet Rumped Cacique spotted from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower.
Scarlet Rumped Cacique - Cacicus microrhynchus
More photos...
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Red Rumped Cacique

Red Rumped Cacique - Cacicus haemorrhous
Copyright: monacoeye • Itatiaia • November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus haemorrhous
Other: Guaxe (Br) • Arrendajo de lomo rojo (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Colombia to E Brazil & N Argentina
Similar: Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Subtropical Cacique

The Red-rumped Cacique is the most common form of Cacique in eastern Brazil. It is a large bird, quickly identified by its yellow bill, startling bright blue iris and red flash of colour on its rump, especially visible in flight. The rest of the bird is black. Sometimes the blue irises show as black, perhaps in juveniles or bright light, as can be seen in the photo of the juvenile begging for food.

Red-rumped Caciques nest in colonies of pendulous nests, which they add to year after year, so that some older ones are empty. This can work to confuse some predators such as snakes. They will also weave their nests with green garden twine and several nests were seen incorporating this man made material. In Itatiaia I often saw Red-rumped Caciques eating fruit, including that of cecropia. A good sized colony of Red-rumped Caciques by the lake at Regua too.

There are two separate populations of Red-rumped Cacique, one in southeast South America, including the southeast of Brazil, and one in northwest South America.

Below, beautiful blue eye of a Red-rumped Cacique, Itatiaia, November.
Red Rumped Cacique - Cacicus haemorrhous

Below, Red-rumped Cacique nests, Itatiaia, November.
Red Rumped Cacique - Cacicus haemorrhousMore photos...
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Yellow Rumped Cacique

Yellow Rumped Cacique - Cacicus cela
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus cela
Other: Xexéu (Br), japi, japim
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Amazonia, Brazil, Peru etc
Similar: Northern Mountain Cacique, Golden-winged Cacique

Yellow-rumped Caciques tend to build a colony of nests beside an active wasp nest (picture below).

Yellow-rumped Caciques were common in central Panama (top pics). Also frequently seen in Pantanal, Brazil (lower pics). Again at Chapada das Guimaraes. Also in Ecuadorian Amazonia (lowest record pics).

Panama

Below, Yellow-rumped Cacique displaying, central Panama, May 2010
Yellow Rumped Cacique - Cacicus cela

Below, beautiful Yellow-rumped Cacique, central Panama, May 2010

Yellow Rumped Cacique - Cacicus celaMore photos...
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Northern Mountain Cacique

Northern Mountain Cacique - Cacicus leucoramphus
Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador, March, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Northern Mountain Cacique
Latin: Cacicus leucoramphus
Other: Mountain Cacique • Cacique montañes norteño (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Colombia to E Brazil & N Argentina
Similar: Yellow-rumped Cacique

The Northern Mountain Cacique is the regular cacique at Guango Lodge. In Ecuador it is found at 2000 - 3100 m on the eastern slope, so there is no known overlap with Yellow-rumped Cacique.

Adults have bright blue eyes and dark bills, so the bird pictured above may be a juvenile, which have dark irises.

Split from Cacicus chrysonotus.More photos...
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White Browed Blackbird

White Browed Blackbird - Sturnella superciliaris
Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Browed Blackbird
Latin: Sturnella superciliaris
Other: Polícia-inglesa-do-sul (Br) • Pecho colorado (Es)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Costa Rica to Brazil, Trinidad and expanding to Nicaragua etc.
Similar: Red-breasted Blackbird

The male White-browed Blackbird has a characteristic red breast, red spot on shoulder and white brow. The female is striped brown but still shows the light supercilium. I’m not sure if the two photos below are of females or juveniles.

White Browed Blackbird - Sturnella superciliaris
White Browed Blackbird - Sturnella superciliarisMore photos...
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Red Breasted Blackbird

Red Breasted Blackbird - Sturnella militaris
Copyright: monacoeye • Para, Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Red Breasted Blackbird
Latin: Sturnella militaris
Other: Tordo pechirrojo (Es), Polícia-inglesa-do-norte (Br)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Costa Rica to Brazil, Trinidad and expanding to Nicaragua etc.
Similar: White-browed Blackbird

I saw a flock of Red-breasted Blackbirds in a field in southern Para, Brazil. The male, pictured above, has a red breast. Females are borwn and yellow, streaked.

These were the only ones we saw in Brazil, since we didn’t visit this kind of habitat much in the north, but it looked like it might be quite a common bird around farms.

Red-breasted Blackbirds are the northern equivalent of the White-browed Blackbird, which occurs further south.

Below, a flock of Red-breasted Blackbirds flushed as we drove past. Para, Brazil, Aug.
Red Breasted Blackbird - Sturnella militarisMore photos...
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Orange Backed Troupial

Orange Backed Troupial - Icterus croconotus
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Orange Backed Troupial
Latin: Icterus croconotus
Other: João-pinto (Br) • Matico (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles, Troupials
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru.
Similar:

The Orange-backed Troupial is a real stunner, quite regularly seen in the Pantanal and reasonably approachable. The bird above was the first one I saw, on day three of my Pantanal trip, as I was driving along the Transpantaneira. Too good to be true that this bird was feeding on a tree with similarly-coloured flowers! Of couse I stopped the car for a good fifteen minutes. I’d like to know what tree this is.

Below, Orange-backed Troupial feeding, Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011
Orange Backed Troupial - Icterus croconotusMore photos...
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Unicolored Blackbird

Unicolored Blackbird - Agelasticus cyanopus
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Unicolored Blackbird
Latin: Agelasticus cyanopus
Other: Unicoloured Blackbird (UK) • Varillero Negro (Es) • Carretão (Br)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
Similar:

The adult male Unicolored Blackbird is entirely black and the female is streaked brown above and streaked yellow underneath. I saw these in and around water. Often seen in pairs.

Below, female Unicolored Blackbird perched on water plants, Pantanal, Aug 2011.Unicolored Blackbird - Agelasticus cyanopusMore photos...
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Epaulet Oriole

Epaulet Oriole - Icterus cayanensis
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Epaulet Oriole
Latin: Icterus cayanensis
Other: Boyerito (Es) • Encontro (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname.
Similar: Variable Oriole, Moriche Oriole

These Epaulet Orioles were seen in the southern part of the Brazilian state of Pará. See Variable Oriole for photos of similar birds in the Pantanal - a 2010 split.

There are a few subspecies - the epaulet can be yellow or orange-brown.

The Epaulet Oriole is a blackish bird with small patch of yellow or chestnut on shoulder.

Below, Epaulet Oriole feeding on some Cecropia fruit, Para, August.
Epaulet Oriole - Icterus cayanensisMore photos...
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Oriole Blackbird

Oriole Blackbird - Gymnomystax mexicanus
Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, March 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Oriole Blackbird
Latin: Gymnomystax mexicanus
Other: Maicero (Es) • Iratauá-grande (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles, New World Blackbirds
Range: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.
Similar:

There are two populations for the Oriole Blackbird: one stretching along the Amazon from Brazil to Ecuador; the other from northern Venezuela into Colombia. I saw this individual in Ecuadorian Amazonia perched on a stump mid river.

An unmissable bird.More photos...
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Variable Oriole

Variable Oriole - Icterus pyrrhopterus
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Variable Oriole
Latin: Icterus pyrrhopterus
Other:
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Pantanal
Similar: Epaulet Oriole, Moriche Oriole

I’m now classing these as Variable Oriole, which is a c. 2010 split by IOC & SACC from Epaulet Oriole. I’ve been told birds in the Pantanal are Variable. Also seen in Rio Grande do Sul wetlands.

The Variable Oriole is a black bird with small patch of yellow or chestnut on shoulder.

Below, Variable Oriole, Pantanal, August.
Variable Oriole - Icterus pyrrhopterusMore photos...
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Baywing

agelaioides badius - Baywing, Baywinged Cowbird
Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Baywing
Latin: Agelaioides badius
Other: Bay Winged Cowbird • Asa-de-telha (Br) • Tordo músico (Es)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay
Similar: Juvenile Screaming Cowbird

The Baywing is predominantly grey with rufous wing edges and black eye and bill.

Above, seen on the Transpantaneira highway, in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Baywings were easy to see at Pouso Alegre, where they joined Saffron Finches to feed on corn given to the animals. Not uncommon in open country.

These are not Cowbirds, in that they are not brood parasitic or in the genus Molothrus. In fact they are parasitised by Shiny Cowbirds, whose juveniles look very similar.More photos...
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Yellow Tailed Oriole

Yellow Tailed Oriole - Icterus mesomelas
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Tailed Oriole
Latin: Icterus mesomelas
Other: Turpial de cola amarilla (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Mexico to Peru, Venezuela
Similar: Yellow-backed Oriole

The Yellow-tailed Oriole. Yellow on underside of tail diagnostic.More photos...
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Yellow Backed Oriole

Yellow Backed Oriole - Icterus chrysater
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Backed Oriole
Latin: Icterus chrysater
Other: Turpial toche, bolsero dorso dorado (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: S Mexico to Panama, Colombia, Venezuela
Similar: Yellow-tailed Oriole

A record shot of Yellow-backed Oriole in Gamboa. Note the black underside of tail, which differentiates it from the Yellow-tailed Oriole.More photos...
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Yellow Billed Cacique

Yellow Billed Cacique - Amblycercus holosericeus
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Billed Cacique
Latin: Amblycercus holosericeus
Other:
Family: IcteridaeCaciques
Range: Mexico to N Bolivia
Similar:

Somewhere in there was a Yellow-billed Cacique - a black bird with yellow bill!
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Giant Cowbird

Giant Cowbird - Molothrus oryzivorus
Copyright monacoeye • Iguaçu, Brazil 2006

Bird name: Giant Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus oryzivorus
Other: Iraúna-grande (Br) • Tordo Gigante (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCowbirds
Range: S Mexico through N South America
Similar: Great Tailed Grackle

The Giant Cowbird is a brood parasitic icterid, laying its eggs in the nests of oropendolas, caciques and some other birds such as jays. It is found from Central America to the northwestern half of South America and to a lesser extent the southern part of Brazil.

The Giant Cowbird is a large bird (40 cm) - it looks a bit similar to the Great-tailed Grackle in Panama, but the latter has a thinner bill. The adult male is larger and shiny blue-black, the female browner and smaller. Irises can be red or yellow, depending on regional differences, also in some regions males tend to have red irises and females yellow irises.


Below, a Giant Cowbird with red eye in the Canal zone of Central Panama, 2010
Giant Cowbird - Molothrus oryzivorusMore photos...
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Bronzed Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Bronzed Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus aeneus
Other: Vaquero de ojos rojos (Es)
Family: IcteridaeCowbirds
Range: SW USA to Panama
Similar: Shiny Cowbird

The male Bronzed Cowbird is dark with a big ruff, the female is lighter.

Bronzed Cowbirds should have bright red irises - none of these photo show this feature which makes me think they may not be Bronzed Cowbirds!

Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneusMore photos...
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Boat Tailed Grackle

Boat Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major
Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Florida 2009

Bird name: Boat Tailed Grackle
Latin: Quiscalus major
Other: Boat-tailed Grackle
Family: IcteridaeGrackles
Range: USA - southeast coast, esp Florida.
Similar: Great-tailed Grackle, Common Grackle

The Boat-tailed Grackle, seen here in Florida, has a particular fondness for car-parks (see photo below in “more photos”). It lives in Florida and along the coast to the north and west. Many thanks to Alexia for sending in these great photos.More photos...
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Great Tailed Grackle

Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Great Tailed Grackle
Latin: Quiscalus mexicanus
Other: Mexican Grackle • Quiscal, zanate (Es)
Family: IcteridaeGrackles
Range: S USA through W, N South America
Similar: Giant Cowbird

The Great-tailed Grackle is seen fairly in Panama frequently, around habitations, roadsides, fields etc.

The male Great-tailed Grackle is black with yellow irises and a long tail. The female is smaller and brown with dark line around eye.

Great Tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanusMore photos...
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Brewer's Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird - Euphagus cyanocephalus
Copyright: AT/monacoeye • Point Reyes, December • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Brewer’s Blackbird
Latin: Euphagus cyanocephalus
Other:
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: North America, some migrating to Mexico.
Similar:

This is an adult male Brewer’s Blackbird, identifiable by bright yellow iris and glossy blue-indigo plumage, purplish on head. Seen here in California.
Comments

Chestnut Capped Blackbird

Chestnut Capped Blackbird - Chrysomus ruficapillus
Chestnut Capped Blackbird - Chrysomus ruficapillus
Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Chestnut Capped Blackbird
Latin: Chrysomus ruficapillus
Other: Garibaldi (Br) • Turpial de gorro castaño (Es)
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Similar:

The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is often seen around Lagoa do Peixe in large groups of several dozen birds, standing in fields or perched by roadsides or in trees.

The adult male is quite easily recognisable - all black with dark red throat and cap. But the red is very dark and can be difficult to see. The females and juveniles are more difficult, mostly brown with the red replaced by ochre. Pictured below is one with yellow spots and red - perhaps a juvenile male?

The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is found in much of eastern South America and Colombia. In Brazil it lives in the south and east of the country.

Chestnut Capped Blackbird - Chrysomus ruficapillusMore photos...
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Eastern Meadowlark

Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Eastern Meadowlark
Latin: Sturnella magna
Other: Turpial oriental, carmelo, zacatero común, pradero común (Es) •
Family: IcteridaeBlackbirds, Meadowlark
Range: SE Canada to NE Brazil
Similar:

I saw these Eastern Meadowlarks a couple of times in Panama, once in a meadow in El Valle, then again crossing the road near a house in Chiriqui.

Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magnaMore photos...
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Brown and Yellow Marshbird

Brown and Yellow Marshbird - Pseudoleistes virescens
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas

Bird name: Brown and Yellow Marshbird
Latin: Pseudoleistes virescens
Other: Dragão (Br) • Pecho amarillo chico (Es), Pecho amarillo común, Dragón
Family: IcteridaeNew World Blackbirds, Marshbirds
Range: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Similar:

The Brown-and-yellow Marshbird has a yellow breast and the rest of the bird is dark brown - it has no yellow on its back unlike the Yellow-rumped Marshbird.

The Brown-and-yellow Marshbird is found only in the very south of Brazil, and neighbouring countries. More photos...
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Icteridae - Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds

224 Icteridae - Oropendolas, Caciques, New World Orioles, Blackbirds, Grackles, Cowbirds - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Clypicterus oseryi - Casqued Oropendola - W Amazonia

Psarocolius wagleri - Chestnut-headed Oropendola - Mexico to Ecuador - was Zarhynchus wagleri
Psarocolius decumanus - Crested Oropendola - N, SC, South America, also Panama
Psarocolius viridis - Green Oropendola - Amazonia
Psarocolius atrovirens - Dusky-green Oropendola - Peru, Bolivia
Psarocolius angustifrons - Russet-backed Oropendola - W, N South America
Psarocolius montezuma - Montezuma Oropendola - S Mexico to Panama
Psarocolius cassini - Baudo Oropendola - NW Colombia
Psarocolius bifasciatus - Olive Oropendola - E, S Amazonia - was Para Oropendola
Psarocolius guatimozinus - Black Oropendola - Panama, Colombia

Ocyalus latirostris - Band-tailed Oropendola - W Amazonia

Cacicus cela - Yellow-rumped Cacique - Panama to SE South America
Cacicus haemorrhous - Red-rumped Cacique - Colombia to E Brazil & N Argentina
Cacicus uropygialis - Subtropical Cacique - Panama to Peru
Cacicus microrhynchus - Scarlet-rumped Cacique - Honduras to Panama - Split from C. uropygialis
Cacicus chrysopterus - Golden-winged Cacique - SC South America
Cacicus chrysonotus - Southern Mountain Cacique - Peru, N Bolivia
Cacicus leucoramphus - Northern Mountain Cacique - Venezuela to Ecuador, N Peru - Split from C. chrysonotus
Cacicus sclateri - Ecuadorian Cacique - Ecuador, Peru
Cacicus koepckeae - Selva Cacique - Peru
Cacicus solitarius - Solitary Cacique - C Amazonia to N Argentina
Cacicus melanicterus - Mexican Cacique - W Mexico to SE Guatemala

Amblycercus holosericeus - Yellow-billed Cacique - Mexico to N Bolivia

Icterus icterus - Venezuelan Troupial - Colombia, Venezuela
Icterus croconotus - Orange-backed Troupial - N, W, SW Amazonia
Icterus jamacaii - Campo Troupial - E Brazil
Icterus pectoralis - Spot-breasted Oriole - Widespread Middle America
Icterus graceannae - White-edged Oriole - Ecuador, Peru
Icterus mesomelas - Yellow-tailed Oriole - Mexico to Peru
Icterus cayanensis - Epaulet Oriole - N, C, SC South America
Icterus pyrrhopterus - Variable Oriole - Pantanal Brazil etc . split from cayanensis, added 2010
Icterus bonana - Martinique Oriole - Martinique
Icterus laudabilis - St. Lucia Oriole - St. Lucia
Icterus oberi - Montserrat Oriole - Montserrat
Icterus dominicensis - Hispaniolan Oriole - Hispaniola - Was Greater Antillean Oriole
Icterus portoricensis - Puerto Rican Oriole - Puerto Rico - Split from Greater Antillean (Hispaniolan) Oriole
Icterus melanopsis - Cuban Oriole - Cuba - Split from Greater Antillean (Hispaniolan) Oriole
Icterus northropi - Bahama Oriole - Bahamas - Split from Greater Antillean (Hispaniolan) Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas - Black-cowled Oriole - S Mexico to Panama
Icterus spurius - Orchard Oriole - SE Canada to C Mexico
Icterus fuertesi - Ochre Oriole - NE Mexico - Split from I. spurius
Icterus cucullatus - Hooded Oriole - SW USA, Mexico, Belize
Icterus wagleri - Black-vented Oriole - Mexico to Nicaragua
Icterus maculialatus - Bar-winged Oriole - S Mexico to El Salvador
Icterus parisorum - Scott's Oriole - SC USA, Mexico
Icterus auricapillus - Orange-crowned Oriole - Panama to Venezuela
Icterus chrysater - Yellow-backed Oriole - S Mexico to Venezuela
Icterus graduacauda - Audubon's Oriole - S Texas, Mexico
Icterus galbula - Baltimore Oriole - E North America - Colombia
Icterus abeillei - Black-backed Oriole - SC Mexico
Icterus bullockii - Bullock's Oriole - W North America - Mexico to Nicaragua
Icterus pustulatus - Streak-backed Oriole - Widespread Middle America
Icterus leucopteryx - Jamaican Oriole - Jamaica, Cayman Islands
Icterus auratus - Orange Oriole - SE Mexico
Icterus nigrogularis - Yellow Oriole - N South America
Icterus gularis - Altamira Oriole - S Texas to Honduras

Nesopsar nigerrimus - Jamaican Blackbird - Jamaica

Gymnomystax mexicanus - Oriole Blackbird - Amazonia

Macroagelaius subalaris - Colombian Mountain Grackle - Colombia
Macroagelaius imthurni - Golden-tufted Mountain Grackle - Tepuis

Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster - Red-bellied Grackle - Colombia

Lampropsar tanagrinus - Velvet-fronted Grackle - W, SW Amazonia, Tepuis

Gnorimopsar chopi - Chopi Blackbird - E, SE, SC South America

Curaeus curaeus - Austral Blackbird - Southern Cone
Curaeus forbesi - Forbes's Blackbird - E Brazil

Amblyramphus holosericeus - Scarlet-headed Blackbird - SE, SC South America

Agelasticus xanthophthalmus - Pale-eyed Blackbird - Ecuador, Peru
Agelasticus cyanopus - Unicolored Blackbird - SC, E Brazil
Agelasticus thilius - Yellow-winged Blackbird - SW, SC South America

Chrysomus ruficapillus - Chestnut-capped Blackbird - NE, SC South America
Chrysomus icterocephalus - Yellow-hooded Blackbird - N, C South America

Xanthopsar flavus - Saffron-cowled Blackbird - SC South America

Pseudoleistes guirahuro - Yellow-rumped Marshbird - SE South America
Pseudoleistes virescens - Brown-and-yellow Marshbird - SE South America

Agelaioides oreopsar - Bolivian Blackbird - Bolivia
Agelaioides badius - Baywing - SC South America

Molothrus rufoaxillaris - Screaming Cowbird - SC South America
Molothrus oryzivorus - Giant Cowbird - S Mexico through N South America
Molothrus aeneus - Bronzed Cowbird - SW USA to Panama
Molothrus armenti - Bronze-brown Cowbird - Colombia - Split from M. aeneus
Molothrus bonariensis - Shiny Cowbird - SE USA though C South America
Molothrus ater - Brown-headed Cowbird - S Canada to S Mexico

Dives atroviolaceus - Cuban Blackbird - Cuba
Dives dives - Melodious Blackbird - Mexico to Nicaragua
Dives warczewiczi - Scrub Blackbird - Ecuador, Peru

Agelaius phoeniceus - Red-winged Blackbird - Widespread North America, Middle America
Agelaius assimilis - Red-shouldered Blackbird - Cuba
Agelaius tricolor - Tricolored Blackbird - California
Agelaius humeralis - Tawny-shouldered Blackbird - Hispaniola, Cuba
Agelaius xanthomus - Yellow-shouldered Blackbird - Puerto Rico

Euphagus carolinus - Rusty Blackbird - N North America - SE South America
Euphagus cyanocephalus - Brewer's Blackbird - W, C North America - Mexico

Quiscalus quiscula - Common Grackle - C, E North America
Quiscalus lugubris - Carib Grackle - Lesser Antilles, N South America
Quiscalus mexicanus - Great-tailed Grackle - S USA through W, N South America
Quiscalus major - Boat-tailed Grackle - E, SE USA
Quiscalus palustris - Slender-billed Grackle - C Mexico
Quiscalus nicaraguensis - Nicaraguan Grackle - Nicaragua
Quiscalus niger - Greater Antillean Grackle - Greater Antilles

Sturnella militaris - Red-breasted Blackbird - Costa Rica through C South America
Sturnella superciliaris - White-browed Blackbird - SC South America
Sturnella bellicosa - Peruvian Meadowlark - Ecuador to N Chile
Sturnella defilippii - Pampas Meadowlark - SE South America
Sturnella loyca - Long-tailed Meadowlark - Southern Cone
Sturnella magna - Eastern Meadowlark - SE Canada to NE Brazil
Sturnella neglecta - Western Meadowlark - W North America, Middle America

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus - Yellow-headed Blackbird - W North America, Middle America

Dolichonyx oryzivorus - Bobolink - N, C North America - C South America
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