Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Cacicus uropygialis

The raucous calls of large flocks of caciques are a welcome feature of travels in the neotropics. Central Panama had 3 kinds of caciques with which one must concern oneself, which may be confusing until they flash their signature plumage. I enjoyed the Scarlet-rumped Cacique pictured below from the viewing platform at the Canopy Tower, and he graciously showed off every aspect of his distinct plumage.  


A Scarlet-rumped Cacique, in this shot indistinguishable from Yellow-billed Cacique.

A Scarlet-rumped Cacique shows his colors while preening.

A slightly ruffled Scarlet-rumped Cacique shows us what he's working with.

In early July of 2005, a pair of Scarlet-rumped Caciques built their hanging-basket best above a viewing platform in front of the Canopy Tower. The attentive parents were almost always the first birds heard and seen each morning from atop the Tower, and with some patience I was able to get some footage of the adults crawling into the nest to feed the restless fledgling(s) therein.  


A Scarlet-rumped Cacique peeks out from its basket nest.

Elsewhere on this site:
Birds of Panama 1, 2004.

Birds of Panama, 2005.

Return to Bird Species Index

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