Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus

Brazilian name: japu

Crested Oropendola, Palmarí, Amazonas, Brazil, September 2003 - click for larger image Brazil

The Crested Oropendola is distributed from Panama south to northern Argentina but is absent from north-east Brazil. It is found in a variety of habitats from humid forest to drier farmland with scattered trees.
Crested Oropendola, Joanes, Ilha de Marajó, Pará, Brazil, November 2005 - click for larger image It is less of a forest bird than other oropendolas and is usually easily seen near its hanging nests on an isolated tree where the males make their spectacular displays.

It is mostly black with a bright yellow tail except for the black central pair of feathers. The bill is ivory, the eye is blue and the male has a short crest. The male is significantly larger than the female at about 48cm (19") against 38cm (15")
Crested Oropendola, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image There is an illustration in Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 1, Plate 23.

There are recordings and a distribution map on xeno-canto.
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