American Blackbirds (Icteridae)
American blackbirds belong to the genus Agelaius in the New World family Icteridae.
This genus includes 11 species of largely insectivorous grassland birds.
Description
The males are typically black with some colorful patches, such as on the shoulders or head.
Females have a brownish plumage. They somewhat resemble American sparrows.
The genus Agelaius contains:
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- Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Agelaius flavus : The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is monotypic (one single species) within the genus Xanthopsar. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and pastureland. The continued existence of this species is threatened by habitat destruction.
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- Yellow-winged Blackbird, Agelaius thilius : The Yellow-winged Blackbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are swamps, intertidal marshes, and pastureland.
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- Pale-eyed Blackbird, Agelaius xanthophthalmus: Found in Ecuador and Peru.
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- Unicolored Blackbird, Agelaius cyanopus : Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitat is swamps.
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- Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
- Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
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- Red-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius assimilis : Endemic to Cuba.
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- Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor
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- Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Agelaius icterocephalus
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- Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius humeralis : Found in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the United States. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest. Republic, Haiti, and the United States. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest.
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- Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, Agelaius xanthomus
- Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Agelaius ruficapillus: Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are swamps and pastureland.
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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