Black birds identification list and photos - Yellow-billed cacique
       Yucatan Black  Birds at  Hacienda Chichen   -   Great  Birding-Adventure 

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Yucatan Bird Identification
  Black Birds List and Photos

In Yucatan, indigenous Maya people call Pi’ich to almost all mid-size black or deep dark feathered birds, such as the black melodious bird; or X' Kau to larger black birds (short for Box Kau) such as grackles and cacique.   Since ancient times,  Yucatec Maya bird-watchers grouped birds by color and other similarities they observed, a great way to help amateur birders to ID a bird they just saw at the Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge and Gardens.   Thus, we created this Black-bird identification photo list to showcase the most found black birds in this lovely hotel gardens; even though they are not of the same bird family or bird species, we tend to describe birds first by color, few body details and size.  We hope you enjoy this Photo and Brief ID Info of our Yucatan Black Birds:

Grackles, Cowbirds, Jays, Cuckoos and Cacique

Black Birds observed at Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge: Black Melodious Oriole     Great Tailed Grackle is called X'Cau in Maya - Yucatan Birding at Hacienda Chichen, Chichen Itza, Mexico     Bird-watching in Chichen Itza, Yucatan - Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge and Wildlife Reserve
     Melodious Blackbird                       Great-tailed Grackle                               Yellow-billed cacique

Yucatan Bird Festival - enjoy birding at Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge in Chichen Itza     Yucatan Bird Tours: Brown Jay observed at Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge in Chichen Itza, Mexico     Common Grackle is called Pi'ich in Maya - Chichen Itza bird-watching at Hacienda Chichen Resort, Mexico
         Bronzed cowbird                                         Brown Jay                                         Common grackle

Yucatan black birds ID: Ani Groove-billed found in small groups - Hacienda Chichen Birding experienceAni Groove-billed, Crotophaga sulcirostris, called "Chic Bul" or "Ch'ikbu'ul" in Maya, is a tropical black bird in the cuckoo family that resides at Hacienda Chichen Bird Refuge most of the year. It has black-shiny plumage,  deep horizontal grooves along its strong wide beak, strong mandible and a really long long tail.  Normally, the Ani Groove-billed is observed in small pair groups in open pastures and orchards.  Territorial, the group feeds mainly of insects, seeds, and round forager.  Ani Groove-billed lay their eggs in one communal nest placing it in tall trees with all group members incubating the eggs and caring for the young. Order: Cuculiformes / Family Cuculidae. (right side photo features a group of Ani Groove-billed birds)Yucatan bird-watching tours at Hacienda Chichen, black catbird, rare small songbird

* Black catbird, Melanoptila glabrirostris, this songbird is  only member of its genus Melanoptila andone of  the smallest mimid from the Mimidae family. Endemic to the Yucatan peninsula and the north regions of Belize and Guatemala; thus, it is a resident songbird protected at the Hacienda Chichen's Maya Jungle private reserve. Habits habits tropical forests and subtropical regions and it is becoming a rare songbird to observe due to habitat loss.  The black catbird's plumage is uniformly glossy black-deep blue, black eyes, bill and feet.
 

* Bronzed cowbird or Red-eyed cowbird, Molothrus aeneus  this Icteridae bird is smaller than those in above, it is also a common resident to the Yucatan; the male has a green-rusty-brown neck and head coloration with shinny black body plumage. The female is smaller and has a duller look, she lays its eggs in other bird species nests such as the prevost's ground sparrow and the yellow-throated brush finch; her young are fed by such bird parents.  - (bottom left photo found in our above bird photo collection*)

* Brown Jay, Psilorhinus morio, please click here for brief info

* Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, (Pi’ich in Maya) is a permanent resident and very common in Yucatan. A large black bird from the Icteridae family, the male is just a bit larger than the female. As adults both have long dark tail, long dark bill and pale yellowish eyes Their feathers appear black with iridescent purple, green or blue shades on their head.  Nest are concealed in lush tall tree branches, such as the ceiba tree within the garden of Hacienda Chichen. ( last bottom right photo found in our above set*)

* Great tail grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (X'Kau in Maya)  is a common resident to our gardens native to North and Central America. It has a medium size with deep black and violet-blue iridescent plumage and a long slender tail. Another member of the Icteridae family, this bird can rich up to 17 inches in length. The great tail grackle has a vast range of call notes, some quite melodic.  You can spot them easily at sundown and down often congregated in large flocks.  Cunning and opportunists by nature, these birds are brave and approach humans for food and scraps as they are omnivorous.  - (center top photo found in our above bird photo collection*)

* Melodious blackbird, Dives dives, endemic to the New World Icterid bird list, and there is no subspecies. This midsized black songbird resides in tropical regions, from the East Mexican coastline, to the Yucatan peninsula and down to Costa Rica. This delightful melodious songbird is called X'Kau in Maya and is a permanent resident at Hacienda Chichen, you can hear their joyful songs around the hotel's gardens all day long. Melodious blackbirds enjoy visiting guests at meal time at the terrace restaurant for a few treats, fruit, seeds, and even a bit of warm bread. Males and females have identical full body black-bluish glossy plumage; their eyes, feet, and bill are deep black. These songbirds sing in duet pairs, delivering many enchanting notes, whistles, and calls. They prefers open spaces and forages insects, you can find them on the ground or perching low.  Melodious black-birds love to feed on nectar and sweet fruits; they also come to your breakfast table for a small bread treat.  Highly territorial, especially during breeding season. Both sexes build a cup nest high in tree branches. The female lays three or four brown-blotched blue eggs, which she incubates alone, although the male helps with feeding the chicks. ( first top photo found left side in our above photo set*)

* Yellow-billed cacique, Amblycercus holosericeus (called also Pi’ich in Maya) Another resident bird to the Hacienda Chichen gardens. It is a large black bird with deep yellow peak and bright yellow eyes from the Icteridae family. Not a true cacique but related to the species, this impressive monotypic bird belongs to the genus Amblycercus. Has a long black shinny tail; it feeds by pecking leaves and twits for insects. The nest has a classic cup-shaped made of twits and fibers. The Yellow-billed cacique found in Yucatan is a lowland bird with no relationship to the bamboo specialized group found in Costa Rica. - (left top photo found in above photo set*).

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