3-12-2015 SINGAPORE - YELLOW HOODED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Chrysomus icterocephalus)

The yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela. It has been recorded as a vagrant on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. In addition, there is a small population in extreme eastern Panama and a previously misidentified specimen from Barbados.

The yellow-hooded blackbird is about 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) long. Males weigh an average of 35.9 g (1.3 oz) and females average 26.8 g (0.95 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a bright yellow head, throat, neck, and upper breast except for black lores. Ther rest of their plumage is glossy black. Adult females of the nominate subspecies have a yellow supercilium, throat, and upper breast. Their crown and the rest of their face are citrine. Their upperparts are dull grayish olive with dusky streaks. Their wings and tail are a darker brownish olive. Their underparts are mostly olive with a somewhat olive-streaked brownish belly. Adult males of subspecies C. i. bogotensis are like the nominate. Adult females are darker than the nominate. Their head is less yellowish overall. They have a blackish mask from the lores to the ear coverts and a brighter yellow supercillium that wraps around behind the ear coverts to meet a yellow upper breast. Juveniles are similar to adult females but are duller, have less yellow on the head, paler upperparts, and faintly streaked buffish underparts. Both sexes of both subspecies have a dark brown iris and black legs and feet. Males have a black bill; females' bills often have a pale base to the mandible.

3-12-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - YELLOW HOODED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Chrysomus icterocephalus)

The yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus ) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is found in grassy and brush areas near water in northern South America, and is generally fairly common. It is sexually dimorphic, and the genders resemble the respective genders of the larger yellow-headed blackbird of North America, though the male yellow-hooded blackbird lacks white in the wings.

In 2007, one was found in the Darien Lowlands of Panama. This was a rare vagrant, most likely from Colombia.

Marshes (permanent or seasonal) with emergent aquatic plants such as cat-tails (Typha), bulrushes (Schoenoplectus), Thalia and similar; along R Amazon and main tributaries found mostly in várzea grasslands with grasses Paspalum and Echinochloa. Also humid savannas and mangroves, and agricultural land; particularly active in abandoned rice fields. Forages in ploughed fields. Lowlands to 1000 m (nominate race); race bogotensis to 2600 m.

 

Largely resident. Local movements reported from areas with strongly marked dry season, such as Venezuelan llanos. Nominate race recorded as accidental in Netherlands Antilles.