Agelaius humeralis
The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius humeralis) is a striking medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 20-22 cm (7.9-8.7 in) in length and weighing 35-45 grams (1.2-1.6 oz). Males are almost entirely glossy black, contrasting sharply with their distinctive tawny-yellowish to orange-brown epaulets (shoulder patches), which are a key identification mark. Females are similar but generally duller, with less vibrant shoulder patches and sometimes a slightly streaked appearance on the underp...
This blackbird favors open, semi-arid and moist woodlands, scrublands, savannas, grasslands with scattered trees, and agricultural areas, often near human settlements. It typically occurs at low to mid-elevations, generally below 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates, particularly during the breeding season, supplemented by a variety of seeds, grains, and some fruits throughout the year. They primarily forage by gleaning and probing on the ground and in low vegetation.
Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds are diurnal and gregarious, often forming small to large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes roosting communally with other icterids, exhibiting complex social interactions. They primarily forage on the ground, gleaning insects and seeds from vegetation or th...
The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird is an endemic resident of the Greater Antilles, primarily found across Cuba and Hispaniola (encompassing both Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Its distribution in Cuba is widespread, inhabiting both the main island and several surrounding cays and small islands. O...
Least Concern
- The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird is one of only two *Agelaius* species (the other being the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird) endemic to the Caribbean, highlighting its unique evolutionary path. - Its scientific name, *humeralis*, refers to the "humerus" or shoulder, a direct nod to its distinctive ta...