Birdsong field guide
Mountain Cacique
Cacicus chrysonotus
The Mountain Cacique is a large, high-altitude icterid recognized by its glossy black plumage and a striking lemon-yellow patch on its lower back and rump. It is a characteristic inhabitant of the misty, epiphyte-laden forests of the Andes Mountains.
What it sounds like
A complex and varied series of liquid gurgles, dry rattles, and clear, ascending whistles.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is uniquely adapted to high elevations, occurring at higher altitudes than any other cacique species, often reaching the treeline.
- Unlike many lowland caciques that nest in large, noisy colonies, this species is typically a solitary nester or lives in small family groups.
- It possesses a distinctively pale, ivory or bluish-white bill that provides a sharp visual contrast against its dark facial feathers.
- The species is a 'generalist' feeder, consuming a diverse diet of insects, fruit, and occasionally probing bromeliads for nectar.
- Its nest is a long, pendant structure woven from mosses and fibers, often dangling precariously from the ends of thin branches to deter predators.
Habitat
Humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and temperate forest edges.
Range
The Andean cordillera, ranging from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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