From Opus

Icterus pustulatus

Photo by DedeCrusinberry
Location: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, U.S.A. on 27 Feb 2005
This rare visitor from Mexico and had been in Brazos Bend State Park, near Houston, Texas, since Dec. 04, but was not identified correctly until mid February 2005. This species has never been documented in Texas before.

Photo by DedeCrusinberry. Note the streaks which can be seen on the back.
Location: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, U.S.A.

Identification

20cm. Bright orange body, black streaks on back, deep orange-red head and breast, black face, chin, black wings with two white bars, black tail with white corners. The female and immature are duller than male with yellow-orange on head.

Distribution

Mainly Mexico south to Costa Rica, but a rare winter visitor to Southern California and southern Arizona. Accidental vagrant to Oregon, Texas, and Colorado.

Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of eight subspecies.

Habitat

Tree canopy in open, wooded sites, forest edges and scrub or grassland areas with scattered trees.

Behaviour

The diet includes insects.

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