Bird Guide

Solitary Cacique vs Yellow-rumped Cacique

Solitary Cacique (Cacicus solitarius)

Solitary Cacique

Cacicus solitarius

Medium80 gForest

The male solitary cacique has a length of about 27 cm (10.6 in) and the female 23 cm (9.1 in). It differs from all other entirely black birds with dark irises within its range, by having a large white, chisel-shaped, sharply-pointed beak. It could be confused with the Ecuadorian cacique (Cacicus sclateri), but that is smaller and has a restricted range, or the yellow-billed cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus), but that is not found east of the Andes. It has a range of different vocalizations which are mostly delivered at a measured pace but are sometimes interrupted by gurgles and growls.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Solitary Cacique
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Sucumbíos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank Río Napo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Audrey Whitlock · CC BY 4.0
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela)

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Cacicus cela

Medium85 gForest

The male is on average 28 centimetres (11 in) long and weighs about 104 grams (3.7 oz), with the female 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long and weighing approximately 60 grams (2.1 oz). The yellow-rumped cacique is a slim bird, with a long tail, blue eyes, and a pale yellow pointed bill. It has mainly black plumage, apart from a bright yellow rump, tail base, lower belly and wing "epaulets". The female is duller black than the male, and the juvenile bird resembles the female, but has dark eyes and a brown bill base.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Yellow-rumped Cacique
Recorded by radrat · Call · Pipeline road, Panama · CC0
Photo: Lucas Illanes · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Solitary Cacique and Yellow-rumped Cacique.