Dusky-green Oropendola

Overview

The dusky-green oropendola is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, native to the eastern Andes. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, as it is a common species with a very wide range despite gradual habitat reduction.

Identification

• Length is approximately 42 cm (17 in) for males and 33 cm (13 in) for females.
• Plumage is mainly dark brownish-green or blackish-green, featuring a rufous-brown rump and crissum.
• The beak is greenish-white, and the iris is brown or blue, with the latter potentially appearing in older birds.
• A few yellow feathers may be present on the head.

Habitat

It inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forests on the eastern slope of the Andes. The range extends from Huánuco Province in central Peru to Santa Cruz Department in Bolivia, typically at altitudes between 800 and 2,600 m.

Diet

The diet probably consists of insects, including moths, arthropods, small vertebrates, nectar and fruits. The birds breed colonially, though colony sizes are small, with a breeding season from October to December.