Agelasticus thilius
The Yellow-winged Blackbird, Agelasticus thilius, is a striking passerine from the Icteridae family, instantly recognizable by the males' glossy black plumage contrasted with vibrant yellow lesser and median wing-coverts, often referred to as 'epaulets.' These distinctive yellow patches are the key field mark, lending the species its common name. Males typically measure 18-20 cm in length and weigh around 30-45g, while females are slightly smaller and exhibit a drabber, heavily streaked brown...
This species primarily inhabits wetlands, including marshes, reedbeds, wet grasslands, and borders of lakes and rivers. It can be found from sea level up to moderate elevations in mountainous valleys.
Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming a wide variety of arthropods; also consumes seeds, particularly during non-breeding periods, often foraging in agricultural fields.
Yellow-winged Blackbirds are typically diurnal, spending their days foraging and interacting within their social structures, often roosting communally in dense reeds at night. They are agile foragers, gleaning insects from vegetation and the ground, and also consuming seeds, often clinging vertic...
The Yellow-winged Blackbird boasts a wide distribution across southern South America, primarily as a resident species. Its main breeding range spans across central and southern Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Paraguay and southern Brazil. Isolated populations also occur in Bolivia and coa...
Least Concern
- The dazzling 'yellow wings' that give the species its name are actually specialized lesser and median wing-coverts, not the primary flight feathers. - Despite their striking appearance, females are surprisingly cryptic, being streaky brown and blending perfectly into their dense reedbed habitat...