Psarocolius bifasciatus
The Olive Oropendola (*Psarocolius bifasciatus*) is a striking and imposing neotropical passerine, the largest among the oropendolas. Males measure an impressive 47-52 cm in length and weigh 520-670g, while females are noticeably smaller at 38-42 cm and 250-320g, showcasing significant sexual dimorphism. Its plumage is predominantly a rich, dark olive-brown to blackish-brown, contrasting sharply with a bright chestnut rump and a brilliant yellow tail, except for the two central black feathers...
This species primarily inhabits lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, gallery forests along rivers, forest edges, and clearings with tall emergent trees. It is typically found at elevations below 500 meters, though occasionally recorded up to 800 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of fruit, particularly figs and arillate fruits, and large insects suchles beetles, orthopterans, and larvae. They forage primarily in the canopy and sub-canopy, gleaning insects and probing for food.
Olive Oropendolas are highly gregarious and diurnal, often foraging in groups and forming large, noisy breeding colonies. Males engage in dramatic courtship displays, bowing deeply while inflating their throat pouches and emitting loud, gurgling vocalizations to attract females to nesting sites. ...
The Olive Oropendola is a resident species found throughout the Amazon Basin and the Guianas in South America. Its extensive breeding range spans from southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia, eastward across vast areas of Brazil, including parts of Guyana, Surin...
Least Concern
- The Olive Oropendola is the largest species of oropendola, with males significantly larger and heavier than females. - Their pendulous, woven nests can reach lengths of over 1.5 meters (5 feet), resembling long, hanging baskets. - Females often strategically build their nests within colonies of...