Explore Taxonomy
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Icteridae
Genus
Icterus
Surprise Me
Previous Venezuelan Troupial
Next Orange-backed Troupial
- Campo Troupial
© Celso Modesto Jr.
- Campo Troupial
- Campo Troupial
+2
- Campo Troupial
- Campo Troupial
- Campo Troupial
Watch
- Campo Troupial
Listen

Campo Troupial Icterus jamacaii Scientific name definitions

Rosendo Fraga
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2011

Sign in to see your badges

Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

The Campo Troupial is endemic to northeast Brazil, where it ranges south to Minas Gerais and west to Maranhão, and the central Brazilian state of Tocantins, where it appears to enter into limited contact with the Orange-backed Troupial (Icterus croconotus). The present species is found solely in dry, xeric woodlands, especially in caatingas with tall cacti, although it will also range into agricultural areas. Like other troupials, this is a large oriole with an extensive black hood, a black tail, and upperparts; there is a relatively small area of white on the secondaries, and the rest of the plumage is deep orange, including on the smaller wing coverts (the ‘epaulets’).

Field Identification

c. 23–26 cm; male average 67·3 g, female average 58·5 g. Has head to upper breast black (ragged lower border on breast), mantle, rump to uppertail-coverts and underparts below breast rich orange-yellow, back black; upperwing black, lesser and median coverts yellowish-orange, inner remiges (including longer tertials) with broad white outer edges (prominent patch on closed wing); tail solidly black; iris yellow, small area of blue bare skin around eye; bill black, base of lower mandible grey; legs bluish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar in pattern to adult, but duller, generally looking brownish-black and dull yellowish-orange.

Systematics History

Formerly considered conspecific with I. icterus and I. croconotus, but no intermediates or hybrids known in limited areas where ranges of present species and I. croconotus overlap in Brazil (R Palmeiras, in Tocantins), or where sympatry with escaped captives occurs (e.g. around Belém, Pará, in N Brazil). Proposed taxon paraguayae (described from 265 km W of Puerto Casado, in Paraguayan Chaco), sometimes treated as a race of present species or of I. croconotus, is subsumed into race strictifrons of latter. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

NE Brazil from Maranhão and Tocantins E to Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba, S to Minas Gerais and spreading into Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro (1).

Habitat

Clearings and edges in primary and secondary caatinga (dry forest); regularly visits orchards and gardens, even in small towns. Lowlands.

Movement

Resident.

Diet and Foraging

Insects and other arthropods, probably small vertebrates; also nectar and fruits. Insects in stomach contents included 126 larvae of flies (Diptera), also beetles (Coleoptera) and bugs (Hemiptera). Feeds on fruits of cacti, also on those of cultivated plants such as papayas (Carica), mangos (Mangifera indica) and annonas (Annona). Takes nectar from flowers of Erythrina and Cereus. Quite arboreal, often hanging upside-down while foraging. Forages singly, in pairs and in family parties.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song, by both sexes, consists of repetitions of whistled melodious phrases, e.g. “swéét-chip-swéét-tru-rú”, with second and fourth notes much shorter; may also sing repeated series of pleasant warbles, “chwe koro che-che koro che-che...”, partners sometimes combining in duet. Known to mimic other birds. Calls include various harsh notes, also “crik”. Produces audible wing noise in flight.

Breeding

Season Dec–Mar (Minas Gerais); breeds during rainy season. Presumably monogamous. Solitary breeder, probably territorial. Does not build a nest, instead utilizes covered nest built by other species, mostly furnariids such as Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons) or Caatinga Cachalote (Pseudoseisura cristata); uses old nest or usurps new one, adds some lining material. May aggressively interact with other species, such as Agelaioides fringillarius, to obtain such nests. Only one individual, presumably female, incubates eggs, both sexes defend nest. No other information available.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Reasonably common. Apparently has expanded its range W into E Pará. Very popular as a cagebird throughout Brazil, and much trapped; nests near human settlements are raided and chicks collected. Effects of trapping on wild populations not known; research needed. Replacement of caatinga forest and woodland by pastures and irrigated crops may be having adverse impact on local populations. Reported from several protected areas (e.g. Serra das Almas Natural Reserve, Seridó Ecological Station, Canudos Biological Station), which will integrate the Caatinga Biosphere Reserve (in formation).
Distribution of the Campo Troupial - Range Map
Enlarge
  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Campo Troupial

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Fraga, R. (2020). Campo Troupial (Icterus jamacaii), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.camtro1.01
Birds of the World

Partnerships

A global alliance of nature organizations working to document the natural history of all bird species at an unprecedented scale.

American Ornithological Society American Ornithilogical Society Armonia Bolivia Aves Argentinas Avibase Aves Uruguay Birds Caribbean Bird Count India Conservación de Islas Corbidi Fundación Ñankulafkén Instituto Humboldt Lynx Edicions Oikonos Oriental Bird Club Ornithological Society Of The Middle East The Caucasus And Central Asia RED DE OBSERVADORES DE AVES Y VIDA SILVESTRE DE CHILE Roberts Birds Save Brasil Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute Union Venezolana De Ornitologos