Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Velvet-fronted Grackle
Lampropsar tanagrinus
Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 57.3 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 Lampropsar
- Species tanagrinus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 57.3 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Velvet-fronted Grackle 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 Velvet-fronted Grackle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA forested wetlands in Guiana Shield and w, sw Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 57.3 g, with a wing length of about 10.6 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Velvet-fronted Grackle?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 57.3 g.
Where does the Velvet-fronted Grackle live?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle is found across South America with a range covering SA forested wetlands in Guiana Shield and w, sw Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Velvet-fronted Grackle belong to?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Velvet-fronted Grackle eat?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Velvet-fronted Grackle migrate?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Velvet-fronted Grackle 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 Velvet-fronted Grackle make?
1 real field recording of the Velvet-fronted Grackle — 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 Velvet-fronted Grackle's range?
The Velvet-fronted Grackle has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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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