- Icterus graduacauda
Identification
19cm. Black head, wings and tail, white edges to wing feathers, yellow back, rump, breast, belly and shoulder, pointed bill.
Distribution
Found in the extreme tip of southeastern Texas and along the eastern Mexican coast south to Guatemala. Accidental vagrant to Puerto Rico.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of four subspecies.
Habitat
Mesquite and riparian woodlands.
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.
