- Dives dives
Identification
Male 25.5 cm long and weighs 108 g. Female 23 cm long and weighs 95 g
Adult
- Black plumage with a bluish sheen
- Black bill, legs and feet
- Brown iris
Sexes alike
Young birds are brownish black and lack the iridescence.
Distribution
It is a resident breeder from southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica. Its range is expanding: El Salvador was colonised in the 1950s, and eastern Guatemala in the 1960s. Prior to 1989 there was only one Costa Rican record, but it is now easily seen at least as far south as San José, and it is expected to colonise Panama.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Wide range of habitats, apart from dense forest and thick undergrowth. It has adapted to human habitation and can be seen in gardens and on lawns. This species has benefitted from deforestation, which has allowed its rapid range expansion through creation of suitable habitat.
Behaviour
Breeding
A breeding pair will give a display in which each bird spreads its tail, extends its wings, and ruffles its plumage. The song is a duet, with a see note, followed by a whit and a Northern Cardinal-like whistle. The call is a metallic puitt.
Both sexes build a cup nest of plant material 3-7 m high in a bush or tree and line it with mud and dung. 3-4 brown-blotched blue eggs are laid and incubated by the female, though the male helps with feeding the chicks.
Breeding birds are highly territorial, and adults will attack predators like the Brown Jay, but small flocks form outside the nesting season.
Diet
Diet includes insects, nectar and ripening maize ears; feeding is mostly on the ground.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Melodious Blackbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melodious_Blackbird
