Photo: Gmmv1980 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Saffron-cowled Blackbird
Xanthopsar flavus
Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus) — 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 Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 43 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Xanthopsar
- Species flavus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 43 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus) is a member of the Icteridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA e Paraguay, s Brazil, ne Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 43 g, with a wing length of about 10.4 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 285,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Saffron-cowled Blackbird?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is a small bird that weighs around 43 g.
Where does the Saffron-cowled Blackbird live?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is found across South America with a range covering SA e Paraguay, s Brazil, ne Argentina and Uruguay, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Saffron-cowled Blackbird belong to?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird (Xanthopsar flavus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Saffron-cowled Blackbird eat?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Saffron-cowled Blackbird migrate?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Saffron-cowled Blackbird endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Saffron-cowled Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Saffron-cowled 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 Saffron-cowled Blackbird's range?
The Saffron-cowled Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 285,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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