Jerry,
The head looks dark, not obviously chestnut, so I'm thinking Crested
Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus). It's a widespread resident in South
America and adjacent islands.
My photo from Trinidad is at:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2983196530040004820EFtkfqbut represents a different island subspecies than the Coyote Hills bird.
On Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:29:04 -0700, "John Cant" <jgcant@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
I think it is a chestnut-headed oropendola, natural range starting in
southern Mexico and then southward. Whatever it is, does anyone know if
some strange folks might keep this kind of bird as a pet, and hence this is
an escape?
John Cant
Fremont
_____
From: EBB_Sightings@yahoogroups.com [mailto:EBB_Sightings@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of jtnikon
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 7:03 PM
To: EBB_Sightings@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [EBB_Sightings] Coyote Hills Regional Park (8/25) - Cacique
Today Vern, Ellen, Ted and I were lucky to see something unusual - a Cacique
(exact species unknown) inside the Nectar Garden! I saw it around 10:30 this
morning while photographing a flycatcher and it re-appeared around 11:45AM
and 2:30PM. It has blue eyes, ivory/yellowish bill, black body, rusty rump
and undertail coverts, and yellow/black tail. Also seen inside the garden
are:
Willow Flycatcher (1)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (3)
Wilson's Warbler (1 adult male)
Yellow Warbler (2 - 1 adult female and 1 juvi)
Black-throated Grey Warbler (1 juvi)
Black-headed Grosbeak (1 juvi)
Purple Finch (2)
Western Tanager (1 - juvi or female)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (4)
Bewick's Wren (1)
White-crowned Sparrow (1 juvi)
California Towhee (2)
Northern Mockingbird (2)
Mourning Dove (1)
Western Scrub-Jay (5+)
Anna's Hummingbird (5+)
Dark-eyed Junco (20+)
House Finch (20+)
Lesser Goldfinch (30+)
Also heard a Red-shouldered Hawk and a couple of Red-tailed Hawks calling
from the Hoot Hollow direction.
Images of the Cacique can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryting/6081012009/in/photostream
It will be greatly appreciated if someone can give the exact ID of the
Cacique.
Happy Birding,
Jerry Ting
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu
Birding Classes start Sep 14
http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/
