Russet-Backed Oropendola
Psarocolius angustifrons
About This Species
A large, noisy oropendola of lowland and foothill forest edges and clearings in the Amazon basin, usually found in colonies where males perform a spectacular bowing, gurgling song-display from a perch. The long woven hanging nests, often clustered in a single tall tree, are one of the easiest ways to locate a colony. Most conspicuous and vocal during the breeding season, best watched in early morning at forest-edge colony trees.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Colonies can be observed from a comfortable distance below the nest tree without disturbing normal activity, but avoid climbing towards nests or lingering directly beneath them during active breeding.
- Wildlife protection law differs across the Amazonian countries this species occupies, so treat any nesting colony as sensitive and follow local reserve or landowner guidance.
- Keeping noise low and observation time brief around a colony tree is the simplest way to minimise disturbance.
LCAvesPasseriformesIcteridae
Seasonal Activity
174,741 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
Photo
(c) Bill Levine, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bill Levine
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.