Photo: Kenvanportbc at English Wikipedia / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 56.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Amblyramphus
- Species holosericeus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 56.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) is a member of the Icteridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Bolivia to s Brazil, Uruguay and e Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 56.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 9.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scarlet-headed Blackbird?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 56.8 g.
Where does the Scarlet-headed Blackbird live?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is found across South America with a range covering SA c Bolivia to s Brazil, Uruguay and e Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Scarlet-headed Blackbird belong to?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Scarlet-headed Blackbird eat?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Scarlet-headed Blackbird migrate?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scarlet-headed Blackbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Scarlet-headed Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Scarlet-headed Blackbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scarlet-headed Blackbird's range?
The Scarlet-headed Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 1.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.