Pale-eyed Blackbird

Overview

The pale-eyed blackbird (Agelasticus xanthophthalmus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, found in restricted areas of eastern Ecuador and Peru. It is an inconspicuous bird of very local occurrence that inhabits marshy environments.

Identification

• Adults are entirely black in both sexes, featuring distinctive white or pale buff coloured irises.
• Juveniles and immature birds appear brownish-black with underparts streaked with yellow or buff.
• The call is a loud metallic "tew-tew-tew-tew" similar to that of a black-capped donacobius, usually sung from the top of a shrub.

Habitat

It resides in marshy areas surrounding lagoons and oxbow lakes, as well as the fringes of nearby grasslands. The species is found in eastern Peru and Ecuador, regularly observed in the Limoncocha National Biological Reserve near the Napo River and the Tambopata National Reserve near the Madre de Dios River.

Did you know?

The pale-eyed blackbird was first described in 1969 by American ornithologist Lester L. Short. It has a loud metallic call that is usually heard in the early morning when the bird emerges into open areas to forage.