Bolivian Blackbird

Overview

The Bolivian blackbird (Oreopsar bolivianus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae that is endemic to Bolivia. It is the only member of its genus and is assessed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a population believed to be stable.

Identification

• About 23 cm long with almost entirely black plumage that has little iridescence.
• Flight feathers are sepia-brown, which readily shows in flight.
• Features a decurved culmen on the bill, a brown iris, and dusky gray legs.
• Song is described as a simple sequence of short chip notes interspersed with chip-it notes.

Habitat

Found on the eastern side of the Andes primarily in the south-central Bolivian departments of Cochabamba, Potosí, and Chuquisaca. It inhabits dry valleys between sub-ranges of the Andes, particularly those with tall columnar cactus, as well as open woodlands, scrublands, and irrigated croplands, usually near cliffs. Its elevation range is between 1,400 and 3,500 m.

Diet

Feeds on insects, other arthropods, seeds of wild plants and crops, and cactus fruits. It usually forages in flocks of up to about 20 individuals, often mixing with other icterid species. Foraging mostly takes place on the ground by probing soil, but it also takes prey from tree and shrub leaves and branches.

Did you know?

The species is a cooperative breeder where several adults may provision one brood of nestlings. Its nest is uniquely placed in a niche or crevice in a cliff, a trait not seen in other icterids.