<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360578'>Scarlet-headed Blackbird

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Amblyramphus holosericeus
  • Spanish Name: Chango de cabeza escarlata
  • Family: Icteridae
  • Known Nicknames: Scarlet-headed Marshbird, Red-headed Blackbird
  • Average Length: 24–26 cm / 9.4–10.2 in
  • Average Weight: 70–90 g / 2.5–3.2 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Bright scarlet-orange head, neck, and breast contrasting with entirely black body
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Omnivore (insects, seeds, and fruit)
  • Range: Southeastern South America (southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina)
  • Habitat: Freshwater marshes and swamps with tall emergent vegetation
  • Social Structure: Social (often found in small groups or pairs)
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest woven among reeds or cattails over water
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird (*Amblyramphus holosericeus*) is a striking South American songbird that defies its common name, as it is not a true blackbird but a member of the icterid family. Its most unique characteristic is a vivid, velvety scarlet-orange head, throat, and upper breast that contrasts sharply with the rest of its jet-black body, creating an unmistakable silhouette. A special feature is its long, slender, and slightly decurved bill, which it uses adeptly to probe for insects, seeds, and fruit among aquatic vegetation in its preferred freshwater marsh and reedbed habitats. Despite its bold coloration, this bird can be surprisingly elusive, often perching low in cattails or diving into dense cover, but its loud, flute-like whistles and chattering calls frequently betray its presence.

Faits amusants

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is a master of dramatic costume changes: juveniles are a solid, sooty black, but as they mature, their heads and chests gradually erupt into a brilliant, fiery orange-scarlet, a process that can take over a year. Unlike many blackbirds that forage on the ground, it is a specialist in aquatic vegetation, using its long, sharp bill to pry open bamboo-like stems of bulrushes and reeds to extract hidden insects and larvae. It is also intensely territorial and aggressively chases away much larger birds, sometimes even attacking its own reflection in car windows or mirrors for hours. Furthermore, it has a peculiar, almost comical, habit of "sunbathing" with its wings spread and bill pointed skyward, a behavior thought to help dry its plumage or dislodge parasites.

Habitats et répartition

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is found in central and southeastern South America, ranging from eastern Bolivia and southern Brazil through Paraguay, Uruguay, and into northern and central Argentina. Its distribution is closely tied to freshwater wetlands, primarily inhabiting extensive reed beds, marshes, and the margins of lakes and slow-moving rivers. It prefers areas with dense emergent vegetation, such as cattails and bulrushes, where it forages for insects and seeds, and constructs its deep, woven nests suspended among the reeds. The species is generally resident within its range, though some local movements may occur in response to seasonal flooding or drought.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is generally observed in small, loose flocks outside the breeding season, but becomes strongly territorial and monogamous during reproduction. Males defend dense reedbed territories by singing from prominent perches and performing short, fluttering displays to attract females. Once paired, the female constructs a deep, woven cup nest anchored to cattails or reeds over water, often reusing the same site in subsequent years. A typical clutch contains two to three eggs, which the female incubates alone for about 12–14 days, while the male remains nearby to guard against intruders. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after roughly two weeks. A notable reproductive strategy is their reliance on flooded marsh habitats to reduce nest predation, as the watery surroundings deter many terrestrial predators.

Alimentation

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird is primarily omnivorous, with a diet heavily focused on aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates such as insects, spiders, snails, and small crustaceans, which it forages by probing into mud and shallow water with its long, pointed bill. It also consumes a significant amount of plant matter, including seeds, grains, and the tender shoots of aquatic grasses and reeds. An interesting fact about its feeding behavior is that it often uses its bill to pry open snail shells or manipulate plant stems with remarkable dexterity, and it has been observed occasionally eating small frogs or fish when available. Another notable trait is its tendency to forage in small, loose flocks during the non-breeding season, often associating with other blackbird species to exploit rich food sources in marshes and flooded grasslands.

Couleurs

The adult Scarlet-headed Blackbird is unmistakable: its entire head, neck, and upper breast are a vivid, flame-orange to scarlet, sharply contrasting with the rest of its body, which is a deep, glossy black. The wings and tail are black, often with a faint bluish sheen. Juveniles are duller, with a sooty-black body and an orange-buff head. It lacks camouflage, instead using its conspicuous coloration for social signaling and mate attraction in the open marshes and reedbeds it inhabits.

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