Colombian Mountain Grackle

Overview

The Colombian mountain grackle is an Endangered species of blackbird endemic to Colombia, belonging to the family Icteridae. It is one of only two members of the genus Macroagelaius and is distinguished by its restricted presence in the country's high-altitude forests.

Identification

• Adults are 27 to 30 cm long and slender with a long tail, exhibiting an almost entirely black plumage overlain with a blue gloss.
• Features include a dark brown iris, a black bill, and black legs and feet.
• Dark chestnut axillaries and underwing coverts are present but seldom visible in the field.
• The song is variable, often beginning with low clicks and buzzing notes followed by repeated warbled or whistled motifs, resembling a mockingbird.

Habitat

Found on the western slope of the northern part of Colombia's Eastern Andes, specifically in Norte de Santander, Santander, and Boyacá departments. It inhabits humid montane forest rich in epiphytes, with a strong preference for Quercus humboldtii oak forest at elevations between 1,900 and 3,200 m.

Diet

The diet consists of insects, other arthropods, and berries. Foraging takes place among leaves and epiphytes typically between 15 and 30 m above the ground, often roaming in flocks that include yellow-rumped caciques and other birds.

Did you know?

This species is a cooperative breeder where groups of up to five adults collectively build nests and provision nestlings. The nest itself is an open cup made from plant materials, usually situated in an oak tree between 5 and 10 m above the ground.