Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
Also known as: Monteuma Oropendola
About This Species
A large, striking oriole relative of Central American lowland rainforest, best known for its loud, gurgling, liquid song and the long, woven hanging nests colonies build in isolated canopy trees. Look for its chestnut body, black head and bright yellow tail feathers, and watch displaying males bow forward on a branch while singing. Nesting colonies are most active and vocal in the dry season, when many nests hang together in a single emergent tree.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View a colony tree from a distance rather than approaching or climbing near the hanging nests, since disturbance at a colony can affect many pairs at once rather than a single bird.
- Wildlife protection laws vary across the Central American countries within its range, so check local regulations rather than assuming a single rule, and treat any active colony tree as sensitive.
- Watching from below with binoculars gives excellent views of displays and nest-building without disturbing the birds.
LCAvesPasseriformesIcteridae
Seasonal Activity
333,248 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
Photo
(c) Don Marsille, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Don Marsille
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.