From Opus

Icterus graduacauda

Photo by Glen Tepke
Location: Salineno, Texas

[edit] Identification

19cm. Black head, wings and tail, white edges to wing feathers, yellow back, rump, breast, belly and shoulder, pointed bill.

[edit] Distribution

Found in the extreme tip of southeastern Texas and along the eastern Mexican coast south to Guatemala. Accidental vagrant to Puerto Rico.

[edit] Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of four subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Mesquite and riparian woodlands.

[edit] Behaviour

Long green grasses are woven into a cup shaped nest, attached at the top to leafy twigs near the trunk. 3-5 eggs are laid and are incubated by the female. The young fledge 11 days after hatching. Sometimes there are two broods. The nests are often parasitized by the Bronzed Cowbird.

[edit] References

USGS

[edit] External Links