Scarlet-headed blackbird explained

The scarlet-headed blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) is an icterid found in the South American wetlands.

Description

This species is about 24 cm long. The bill is oddly shaped: long, slender, and very sharp, looking almost upturned. Adults of both sexes are described by their name. Juveniles have entirely black plumage; orange-red feathers first appear on their breast and throat, later spreading to the neck, head, and thighs. The song is given as "loud, clear, and melodic, a ringing 'cleer-cleer-clur, clulululu'." Calls are simpler but have a similar quality.[1]

Scarlet-headed blackbirds occur in pairs in large reed beds in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil; Bolivia has an isolated population living at an altitudes of about 600 m. They often perch conspicuously on top of stems. They are uncommon, particularly away from the coast.[1]

They eat mainly fruit, supplementing it with seeds and invertebrates, especially insects. They use their bill as a hammer to open food items.[2]

Scarlet-headed blackbirds are monogamous, and territories are grouped together. The nest is an open cup placed in the crotch of a shrub or woven into vegetation, in which they lay two eggs.[2]

References

  1. Book: Ridgely, Robert S. . Tudor, Guy . The Birds of South America: The Oscine Passerines . 1989 . University of Texas Press . 345 . 0-292-70756-8 . 2007-02-19.
  2. Web site: Scarlet-headed blackbird . Meet the Animals . Toronto Zoo . 2007-02-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061111132430/http://www.torontozoo.com/animals/details.asp?AnimalId=499 . 2006-11-11 .

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