All species › Passerines › New World blackbirds, troupials and allies › Russet-backed Oropendola
Russet-backed Oropendola | Psarocolius angustifrons
Roestrugoropendola | Oropéndola dorsirrojiza | Japu-pardo
The Russet-backed Oropendola is the most widespread oropendola of the eastern Andean slope and western Amazonia. It breeds in colonies of long, hanging woven nests in isolated trees along rivers and forest edges. The species varies strongly: birds of the foothills and slopes have a pale bill and a yellow forehead, those of the lowlands a dark bill.
Voice
In display the male bows deeply with raised wings and gives a loud, liquid, gurgling song, roughly ka-chok-ka-woo. The call is a harsh kak or chak; flying groups call frequently.
Recording: Juan Freile — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 · xeno-canto
Identification
35–47 cm; the male is much larger than the female. The plumage is mostly olive-brown, warmer russet on the back and rump. The tail is yellow with dark central feathers, so that in flight mainly the yellow sides stand out. In birds of the slopes the bill is yellowish to horn-coloured and the forehead yellow; in lowland birds of eastern Colombia and Ecuador and north-eastern Peru the bill is blackish. The eye is dark. Juveniles are duller.
Confusion species
Dusky-green Oropendola Psarocolius atrovirens, on the eastern slope in Peru and Bolivia, is darker olive-green, without a russet back. Green Oropendola Psarocolius viridis is brighter olive-green, with a pale bill with an orange-red tip and a pale blue eye. Olive Oropendola Psarocolius bifasciatus is larger, with an olive-yellow head and breast, a chestnut back and a black bill with an orange tip. Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus is black, with an ivory bill.
Habitat
Forest edges, riverbanks, secondary forest, várzea and semi-open country with scattered tall trees, also coffee and cacao plantations, from the lowlands to about 2000 m, locally higher. It eats fruit, nectar, insects and other invertebrates, mostly in the canopy and middle storey. It breeds in colonies; the nests are woven pouches over a metre long, hung from the branch tips of an isolated tree.
Where the bird is most at home, classified by the vegetation units of the Andes and the west coast.
Range and movements
In Colombia on the Andean slopes and in the Amazonian lowlands in the east of the country. In Ecuador in the eastern lowlands and on the eastern slope, with a small, isolated population on the western slope. In Peru in the Amazonian lowlands and on the eastern slope along the whole length of the country. In Bolivia on the eastern slope and in the adjacent lowlands. Absent from the Galápagos. Outside the guide area in Venezuela and western Brazil.
- Resident
- dark = core range, pale = thinly spread
How and when to look
Look for colonies of hanging nests in isolated trees along roads in the foothills and along rivers. In the morning groups fly, calling loudly, between the colony and their feeding trees.
Conservation status
Not evaluated in this circumscription. The species has a large range, is locally common and tolerates forest edges and semi-open farmland well.
Scientific name
Psarocolius angustifrons | (Spix, 1824)
Spix described the species in 1824 as Cassicus angustifrons; because it was later moved to another genus, the author and year stand in brackets. The genus Psarocolius was introduced in 1827 by Wagler. The genus name combines Greek psar, 'starling', with koloios, 'jackdaw'. The species name comes from Latin angustus, 'narrow', and frons, 'forehead'. The specimen the first description was based on came from São Paulo de Olivença, Amazonas, Brazil.