Subtropical cacique
Subtropical cacique | |
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in Colombia | |
song | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Icteridae |
Genus: | Cacicus |
Species: | C. uropygialis
|
Binomial name | |
Cacicus uropygialis Lafresnaye , 1843 | |
The subtropical cacique (Cacicus uropygialis) is a
Description
The subtropical cacique is
The song calls of the subtropical cacique sound rather atypical for icterids and more like the chatter of an excited great thrush (Turdus fuscater).[2]
Ecology and distribution
Subtropical caciques have been recorded as high as 2,450 m (8,040 ft) ASL and are found along Andean slopes at altitudes of 1,000–2,300 m (3,300–7,500 ft) in
These
Unlike some other caciques they are not usually colonial breeders; like them they have a bag-shaped nest. It is built about 3.5–30 m (11–98 ft) above ground, in a tree which usually also contains an active wasp nest. The bird's nest is 36–64 cm (14–25 in) long, widens at the base, and is suspended from the end of a branch. The normal clutch is two dark-blotched white eggs. The male will assist in feeding the young, but does not incubate.
The subtropical cacique is generally uncommon to rare, but due to its extensive range unlikely to be seriously threatened.
Footnotes
- .
- ^ a b Salaman et al. (2002)
- ^ E.g. mountain cacique (Cacicus leucoramphus) or russet-backed oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons), observed for subtropical caciques: Salaman et al. (2002).
- ^ E.g. green jay (Cyanocorax yncas) or white-collared jay (Cyanolyca viridicyana), observed for neotropical caciques: Salaman et al. (2002).
References
- Jaramillo, Alvaro & Burke, Peter (1999): New World Blackbirds. ISBN 0-7136-4333-1
- Salaman, Paul G.W.; Stiles, F. Gary; Bohórquez, Clara Isabel; Álvarez-R., Mauricio; Umaña, Ana María; Donegan, Thomas M. & Cuervo, Andrés M. (2002): New and noteworthy bird records from the east slope of the Andes of Colombia. Caldasia 24(1): 157–189. PDF fulltext
- South American Classification Committee (SACC) (2003): Proposal #73 – Split Cacicus microrhynchus from C. uropygialis.
- Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander Frank (1989): A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Comistock, Ithaca. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4