About the Ecuadorian Cacique
The Ecuadorian cacique is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. A fairly common bird with a wide range, the IUCN has rated it a "species of least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The male Ecuadorian cacique grows to a length of about 23 cm (9 in), with the female being a little smaller. The plumage of both sexes is entirely black, the beak is whitish, long and pointed, and the iris is blue in adults and brown in juveniles. This bird can be distinguished from the otherwise similar solitary cacique (Cacicus solitarius) because that species is larger, has a darker-coloured iris and spends more time in undergrowth and near the ground and less time in trees. Also similar is the red-rumped cacique (C. haemorrhous), but it reveals its bright red rump patch when in flight.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Ecuadorian Cacique sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Selva CaciqueCacicus koepckeaeThe Selva cacique is entirely black except for a distinctive yellow rump and yellow upper-tail coverts.
Mountain CaciqueCacicus chrysonotusMountain caciques are about 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long.
Golden-winged CaciqueCacicus chrysopterusMale golden-winged caciques are about 21 cm (8.3 in) long and females about 19 cm (7.5 in).
Learn the Ecuadorian Cacique for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.