Yellow-billed cacique

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Yellow-billed cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Amblycercus
Cabanis, 1851
Species:
A. holosericeus
Binomial name
Amblycercus holosericeus
(Deppe, 1830)
Amblycercus holosericeus map.svg
Range of Amblycercus holosericeus

The yellow-billed cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus) is a species of cacique in the family Icteridae. It belongs to the monotypic genus Amblycercus. [2] There is some question as to whether or not it is a true cacique. [3] [4]

Contents

The plumage is entirely black. The legs and feet are dark gray. The eye is yellow or yellow-orange. The bill is yellow with a gray tinge. Measures 23 cm (9.1 in) long. [5]

It is found in Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Three subspecies are known: [6]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest. [1]

The yellow-billed cacique feeds on insects and other invertebrates, as well as some fruit. It uses a pecking technique similar to that of a woodpecker to gain access to the interior of branches and bamboo. In some areas, this species is a bamboo specialist, while in other areas, it feeds from a variety of vegetation. [3]

In the spring, the yellow-billed cacique builds a sturdy cup-shaped nest, which is unusual for its family, who tend to build hanging woven nests. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2020). "Amblycercus holosericeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T22724065A136772337. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22724065A136772337.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. "ITIS Report: Amblycercus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Ramos-Ordoñez, M.F.; Rodríguez-Flores, C.; Soberanes-González, C.; Arizmendi, M.C. (2010). Schulenberg, T.S. (ed.). "Yellow-billed Cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus)". Neotropical Birds Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. "Yellow-billed Cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus)". The Internet Bird Collection. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. Garrigues, Richard; Dean, Robert (2007). The Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca: Zona Tropical/Comstock/Cornell University Press. p. 320. ISBN   978-0-8014-7373-9.
  6. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "IOC World Bird List". International Ornithological Union. Retrieved 30 October 2020.

Further reading