- Icterus icterus
Identification
9.75 ins (25cm). A large member of the oriole family with a black head and upper breast; orange-yellow belly and back; black tail and black wings with large white wing patches. Large pointed grey bill and grey orbital ring extending into a point behind the yellowish eye.
Distribution
The ABC Islands (formerly the Netherlands Antilles) and Margarita Island, off Venezuela. Trinidad. Introduced to Puerto Rico, inc. Mona Is., Virgin Is. on St Thomas. Venezuela north of the Orinoco River and NE Colombia from the Guajira Peninsula to SE base of Santa Marta Mtns. and in N Arauca. S Guyana & adjacent N Brazil; SE Colombia in Putumayo & Amazonas, E Ecuador, E Peru, N, E Bolivia south to Chuquisaca, W, C Amazonian Brazil mostly south of the Amazon, east to near mouth of the lower Rio Tapajos and south to W Mato Grosso in Paraguay River drainage, W Paraguay and N Argentina in Formosa. NE brazil in Maranhao, Ceara & Pernambuco south & west to Goias, Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Taxonomy
The 3 subspecies of the Troupial have now become 3 full species, which are Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus), with the races: ridgwayi, icterus and metae; Orange-Backed Troupial (I. croconotus) with races croconotus and strictifrons; and Campo Troupial (I. jamaicaii). The Troupial in the picture above, was photgraphed in the ABC islands (formerly the Netherlands Antilles), and is therefore the ridgwayi subspecies of the Venezuelan Troupial (I.i.ridgwayi). See [1] and scroll down to the section for July 15, 2003. Page 709.
Habitat
Mainly arid scrublands in the West Indies. Also found in parks and urban areas. Woodlands near rivers in South America.
Behaviour
Voice: a clear whistle: troup, troup.... or troup-ial, troup-ial......
