Ani 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)
* 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*).
BACK TO BIRD GUIDE
PAGE
VISIT HACIENDA
CHICHEN RESORT:
INFO@HACIENDACHICHEN.COM -
WWW.HACIENDACHICHEN.COM
-
WWW.YAXKINSPA.COM
