Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas Scientific name definitions

This oriole was formerly considered conspecific with all of the four species that were briefly considered to form part of the Greater Antillean Oriole (Icterus dominicensis), on the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The mainland population, which has retained the vernacular name Black-cowled Oriole, is found over the Caribbean slope of Middle America, from southern Mexico to western Panama. Two subspecies are generally recognized for these mainland birds. The sexes differ in plumage, with males being largely black above and over the head and neck, other than the yellow rump and lesser wing coverts, while the belly and ventral underparts are also yellow. In contrast, females are black only over the face and foreneck, and on the wings, being olive-green over the mantle to tail, with indistinct yellow epaulets, and largely yellow underparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Season Mar–Jul in Costa Rica. Probably monogamous. Solitary breeder; in Yucatán Peninsula, single pairs may nest in or near colonies of I. auratus. Nest a short basket-shaped structure, external depth 8 cm, made from dark and light fibres, also rootlets, lined with brownish plant down, stitched to underside of palm leaf, or to leaves of banana plant or similar (e.g. once in a cultivated Ravenala madagascariensis); also, reported as nesting under eaves of houses, attaching nest to nails or wire. Clutch probably 3 eggs, based on brood size, mean dimensions of eggs attributed to this species 22·2 × 15·8 mm; eggs white, with brown blotches (1 Torres Fallas, S. (2010). Descripción del nido y de los huevos de Icterus prosthemelas (bolsero capuchinegro/black-cowled oriole), Aves: Icteridae, Tapantí, Costa Rica. Zeledonia. 14(1): 28–30. In Spanish. Close ); both sexes feed chicks and both defend nest. No other information.