Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
The Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) is a uncommon new world blackbirds, troupials, and alli found in 7 countries, weighing about 28 g. The black-cowled oriole is a species of bird in the family Icteridae.
About the Black-cowled Oriole
The black-cowled oriole is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is common and widespread in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama. It lives primarily in humid or semihumid forest, as well as in clearings, along forest edges, in plantations, in semi-open areas with scattered trees and bushes, and in gardens. The adult male is black, with yellow on the belly, shoulder, rump, wing lining, and crissum. The female's plumage varies depending on location. In the south of its range, it is similar to that of the male. In the north, its crown and upperparts are olive-yellow, while its face, throat, upper breast, wings, and tail are black.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-cowled oriole is a medium-sized passerine, ranging in length from 18.5 to 21 cm (7.3 to 8.3 in). Males are larger and heavier than females, averaging 32.5 g (1.15 oz) while females average only 27.5 g (0.97 oz). In the north of the range, males and females are sexually dimorphic, while in the south, their plumages are similar. In both sexes, the bill is slender, slightly decurved, and black, with a silvery base to the lower mandible. The adult male's plumage is mostly black, with bright yellow patches on the shoulder, rump, and uppertail coverts. Voice: The bird's song is a fairly quiet, complicated series of soft, whistled notes and harsher chattering. These are described as being variously clear, metallic, slurred and mellow, and are delivered in an apparently random order. Its calls include a scratchy, rising weet, a nasal deep, a nasal eeaahnk, a quiet tee-u, and a sharper beehk or bihk.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-cowled Oriole?
- The black-cowled oriole is a medium-sized passerine, ranging in length from 18.5 to 21 cm (7.3 to 8.3 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-cowled Oriole?
- The Black-cowled Oriole is a small sized bird weighing about 28 g.
- Where can you see a Black-cowled Oriole?
- The Black-cowled Oriole occurs in 7 countries, including Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
- What birds look similar to a Black-cowled Oriole?
- The Black-cowled Oriole is most easily confused with the Venezuelan Troupial, the Spot-breasted Oriole and the Yellow Oriole.
- Is the Black-cowled Oriole endangered?
- The Black-cowled Oriole is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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