Return of Bird of the Week: Russet-backed Oropendola

Another Oropendola species, this one a South American species near the southern margin of it range in central Peru. The Russet-backed is about the same size as its Crested cousin. The taxonomy of Oropendolas in general and Russet-backed in particular is undecided. There are presently six subspecies, but two of those subspecies – the Yellow-billed and the Black-billed Oropendola – have been proposed as separate species. This is probably the Alfredisubspecies, the proposed “Yellow-billed” Oropendola. Like its cousins, this is a colonial nester, with long, pendulous nests. The IUCN reportsthis is a species of least concern because of its comparatively wide…