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Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
jmorlan

Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus xanthomus)

This range-restricted species is confined to the lowlands of southwestern Puerto Rico. Two races are recognized. This is the nominate subspecies found in mangroves and adjacent areas on the mainland. Another race (A. x. monensis) is confined to Mona Island off Western Puerto Rico. It has more extensive white rather than yellow median coverts and also paler yellow coloration. This photo shows that the nominate race may also show some white trim in the otherwise yellow median coverts.
The yellow is usually hidden under black scapulars, but is revealed in flight and in courtship display. Immatures have black median coverts and look entirely black when perched. Males and females are similar.
This species was formerly abundant but is now rare and critically endangered. The total population was reduced to only 300 birds by 1982 and current estimates are about 400 on the mainland with an unknown number on Mona Island (HBW 2011).
The main cause of the decline appears to be brood parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds which arrived in Puerto Rico from South America around 1955 (Oberle 2010). A conservation program started in 1980 has reduced the number of parasitized Yellow-shouldered Blackbird nests from 87% to 8% with fledging rates increasing from 0.3 to 2.3 birds per nest (Jaramillo and Burke 1999).
Location
Boqueron, Cabo Rojo Municipality, Puerto Rico
Date taken
28 January 2012
Scientific name
Agelaius xanthomus xanthomus
Equipment used
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter)
what a beautiful blackbird, with stunning colors!!!! superb photo of this one, many tfs!!!

many thanks for putting my photo of the yellowish pipit on Opus, highly appreciated!!
 
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Gosh!!! Pretty, isn't he Joe! Now that's one we haven't seen come in for a while!!

A super picture you've taken of him lad - very well done.
 
It is clear how he got his name! Such a lovely close up with great lighting, Joseph.
 

Media information

Category
The Caribbean
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
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Comment count
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