Cacicus chrysonotus
The Mountain Cacique, *Cacicus chrysonotus*, is a strikingly handsome passerine bird renowned for its glossy black plumage contrasted with a brilliant golden-yellow rump and lower back, from which its scientific name 'chrysonotus' (golden-backed) is derived. Adult individuals typically measure between 28-30 cm (11-12 inches) in length and weigh around 80-100 grams (2.8-3.5 oz). Its most distinctive field marks include its pale, almost white to yellowish-white bill, and piercing pale blue to w...
Found primarily in humid montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges, often near clearings or rivers. It inhabits elevations typically ranging from 1000 to 3000 meters (3,300 to 9,800 feet) in the Andes.
Mainly insectivorous, consuming a variety of insects and other arthropods, supplemented significantly by fruits, particularly berries. It forages by gleaning from foliage and branches in the forest canopy.
Mountain Caciques are diurnal and highly social birds, often seen foraging in small, active flocks, sometimes associating with mixed-species foraging parties. They forage primarily in the forest canopy and mid-story, gleaning insects and arthropods from foliage and branches, and also consuming fr...
The Mountain Cacique has a broad distribution along the Andean mountain chain in South America, extending from northwestern Venezuela southwestward through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and into central Bolivia. It is primarily a resident species, with no significant long-distance migrations, instead ...
Least Concern
- The Mountain Cacique's scientific name, *Cacicus chrysonotus*, literally translates to 'golden-backed king', a nod to its striking yellow rump and the genus's regal appearance. - Their pendulous nests can be astonishingly long, sometimes over a meter (3 feet) in length, intricately woven from v...