ICTERIDAE of South America
The Icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful birds, restricted to the New World. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The majority of icterid species live in the tropics, although there are a number of temperate forms. They inhabit a range of habitats, including scrub, swamp, forest, and savannah. Temperate species are migratory. Icterids are variable in size, and often display considerable sexual dimorphism. Their size varies 15-52 cm. One unusual adaptation shared is they can open their bills strongly rather than passively, allowing them to force open gaps to obtain otherwise hidden food. Some use their gaping motion to open the skins of fruit to obtain the soft insides, and have long bills adapted to the process. Others such as cowbirds have shorter stubbier bills for crushing seeds. Orioles will drink nectar. The nesting habits of these birds are similarly variable. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Blackbirds
Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae
These blackbirds are not to be confused with the European blackbird Turdus merula which is called Blackbird. The New World blackbirds have a a diet of mainly seeds and insects, with seeds usually being predominant. The males are mostly dark with often some colorful patches. The females are drab and some resemble New World sparrows.
Genus Agelaius
Blackbird, Tricolored Agelaius tricolor Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Tsuru8 2) Charlie Westerinen - Soldier Hollow, Utah, USA
Blackbird, Unicolored Agelaius cyanopus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Gustavo Durán - Argentenia 3) Lip Kee Yap - Argentenia
1, 2, 3) Female
Blackbird, Yellow-winged Agelaius thilius Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Claudio Timm - Brazil 5) dFaulder - Costanera Sur Nature Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1, 2) Female 3, 4, 5) Male
Genus Amblyramphus - 1 species
Blackbird, Scarlet-headed Amblyramphus holosericeus Found: southern South Amercia
Photographed by: 1) Ken Erickson 2) Claudio Timm - Brazil
Genus Chrysomus
Blackbird, Chestnut-capped Chrysomus ruficapillus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 7) Claudio Timm 4, 5) dFaulder - Argentina 6) Dario Sanches
1) Juvenile maloe 2) Female (white not usual) 4 - 7) Male
Blackbird, Yellow-hooded Chrysomus icterocephalus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Trisha Shears 2) Darren Bellerby - Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 3) Laura Gooch
1, 2) Male 3) Female
Genus Gnorimopsar - 1 species
Blackbird, Chopi Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Beatrice Murch - Iguazu National Park, Argentina 2) Claudio Timm - Brazil
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Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.