Cassiculus melanicterus
The Mexican Cacique (*Cassiculus melanicterus*) is a striking member of the Icteridae family, immediately recognizable by its brilliant yellow and glossy black plumage. This medium-sized songbird measures 23-28 cm (9-11 inches) in length and weighs approximately 55-70 grams, with its most distinctive feature being the entirely bright yellow head, neck, upper breast, and rump, contrasting sharply with its otherwise lustrous black body. Large yellow patches on its wings, a long, graduated tail,...
Found primarily in tropical dry deciduous forests, thorn scrub, and riparian woodlands, often at forest edges. It generally inhabits lowlands and foothills up to approximately 1500 meters (5000 feet) elevation.
Their diet consists primarily of arthropods (insects and spiders), nectar from various flowering trees, and some fruits.
Mexican Caciques are diurnal birds, actively foraging and vocalizing throughout the day. They employ a varied foraging strategy, gleaning insects and spiders from foliage and branches, and skillfully probing flowers for nectar using their specialized brush-tipped tongues. During the breeding seas...
The Mexican Cacique is a resident species, non-migratory, found exclusively along the Pacific slope of western Mexico. Its distribution extends from southeastern Sonora, south through Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero, reaching as far as Oaxaca and into Chiapas. Additiona...
Least Concern
- The name "Cacique" originates from an Arawakan word for "chief" or "prince," fitting for this species' striking appearance and commanding vocalizations. - Their elaborate, woven, pendulous nests can hang up to two feet long, skillfully constructed from plant fibers. - This bird is the sole spec...