ID Keys: (males) Black head, back, tail, undertail, and upper chest.
Orange body.
The
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird is found in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and
Haiti. They are only rare vagrants to the United States, where the
species has been found in the Florida Keys on rare occasions. They are
named for the brownish-orange patch on their shoulders. They are
similar to the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, a species also found in the
Caribbean that has a bright yellow shoulder patch that makes it
distinguishable from the Tawny-shouldered Blackbird.
Habitat
Found in a variety of habitats, including
farmland, open woodlands, forest edges, grassy fields, and marshlands.
Diet
Feeds on grains, seeds, insects, fruits,
berries, and nectar. They will also take small vertebrates such as
small lizards and young rodents.
Behavior
Uses a variety of foraging techniques
dependent upon local food sources. The may feed on the ground, in
bushes and shrubs, to up in the tree canopy, but typically are found
relatively close to the ground.
Nesting
Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds often nest in
loose colonies, with nests placed low in trees or shrubs. The nest is
a small cup constructed of various plant fibers, lined with softer material.
A clutch typically consists of 3 to 5 eggs.
Song
Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds sing a buzzy
song of one or two long notes, often preceded by a short buzzy note.
Both sexes will sing in dual courtship.
Migration
Considered a permanent resident
throughout their normal range, but short-distance movements are noted.
Most similar to theYellow-shouldered
Blackbird, a species found just to the east in Puerto Rico. Very
similar overall to the
Red-winged Blackbird that is so common on the U.S. mainland, but is
not found within the range of the Tawny-shouldered Blackbird. All
of these species are closely related, with shoulder patch
characteristics providing the main visual clue to differences between
them.
