Icterus prosthemelas
The Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) is a striking member of the New World oriole family (Icteridae), showcasing a vivid contrast of colors that immediately captures attention. Measuring approximately 15-17 cm (6-6.7 inches) in length and weighing around 20-25 grams, this species is characterized by its glossy black hood, covering the head, throat, and upper breast, sharply contrasting with its brilliant yellow underparts, rump, and shoulder patches. Its wings and tail are also blac...
The Black-cowled Oriole primarily inhabits humid lowland evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, favoring forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, and mature secondary growth, often found in plantations, particularly those with coconut palms. It is typically observed at elevations ranging from...
Its diet primarily consists of insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark, complemented by significant amounts of nectar probed from flowers, and various soft, ripe fruits. It's a generalist feeder within these categories.
Black-cowled Orioles are diurnal and often observed foraging actively, albeit often secretively within dense foliage high in the canopy. Their primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and larvae from leaves and bark, probing into flowers for nectar, and consuming various soft fruits. T...
The Black-cowled Oriole is a resident species distributed throughout the humid lowlands of Central America, with its range extending from southern Mexico, including the Yucatán Peninsula, southward through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Its distribution also reach...
Least Concern
- The Black-cowled Oriole is renowned for constructing beautifully woven, pendulous nests, often dangling from the undersides of large palm fronds, particularly coconut palms. - Its scientific name, *prosthemelas*, is derived from Greek roots, translating roughly to 'black in front,' a clear refe...