Photo: Hans Norelius from Älvsjö, Sweden / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 156 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 Psarocolius
- Species wagleri
Where it lives
East-central Mexico to east-central Colombia and southwestern Ecuador
Quick facts
- Weight
- 156 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA ec Mexico to ec Colombia and sw Ecuador.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 156 g, with a wing length of about 18.2 cm and a tail of around 11.9 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 482,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-headed Oropendola?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 156 g.
Where does the Chestnut-headed Oropendola live?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA ec Mexico to ec Colombia and sw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Chestnut-headed Oropendola belong to?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-headed Oropendola eat?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Chestnut-headed Oropendola migrate?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chestnut-headed Oropendola 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-headed Oropendola make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-headed Oropendola — 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-headed Oropendola's range?
The Chestnut-headed Oropendola has a mapped global range of about 482,000 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
Endangered
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
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.