Photo: Jairmoreirafotografia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-capped Blackbird
Chrysomus ruficapillus
Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 32 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 Chrysomus
- Species ruficapillus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA ne, sc.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 6.6 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 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-capped Blackbird?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is a small bird that weighs around 32 g.
Where does the Chestnut-capped Blackbird live?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is found across South America with a range covering SA ne, sc, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chestnut-capped Blackbird belong to?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-capped Blackbird eat?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut-capped Blackbird migrate?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Chestnut-capped 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 Chestnut-capped Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-capped Blackbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chestnut-capped Blackbird's range?
The Chestnut-capped Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 5.8 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.
Explore more birds
More in Icteridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
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.