The brown-and-yellow marshbird is a species of bird in the family Icteridae.
Region
Southern South America
Typical Environment
Found across the Pampas and adjacent lowlands of Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, and nearby regions. It favors marshes, wet meadows, reedbeds, rice fields, and damp pastures with standing water or saturated soils. Birds use dense grasses and sedges for cover and nesting sites, often near slow-moving streams or ponds. It also ventures into agricultural edges where water and tall vegetation persist. Human-altered wetlands and ditch lines can be important foraging areas.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The brown-and-yellow marshbird is an icterid of southern South America, often seen in small, noisy groups in wet grasslands and marsh edges. It shows a striking contrast between dark brown upperparts and a vivid yellow belly and undertail. In flight, the yellow underwing lining can be conspicuous. It frequently forages in pastures and rice fields, sometimes near livestock.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights over grass and marsh
Social Behavior
Often forages in pairs or small flocks, sometimes forming looser groups in open wetlands and pastures. Nests are placed low in dense grasses, reeds, or sedges near water. Pairs are attentive, with both adults feeding the young. Outside the breeding season, birds can gather in larger feeding aggregations.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song and calls are a mix of harsh, metallic chatters and squeaky whistles typical of icterids. Vocalizations carry over open grasslands and are used for contact and territorial displays.
Plumage
Overall dark brown to dusky upperparts and breast with a sharply contrasting bright yellow belly and undertail coverts; wings and tail are dark with yellowish underwing lining visible in flight.
Diet
Feeds on insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, plus spiders and other small invertebrates. Also takes seeds and grains, especially in agricultural margins. Will probe damp soil and glean from stems and ground litter. Opportunistic near livestock, picking prey flushed from grass.
Preferred Environment
Forages along marsh edges, wet pastures, flooded fields, rice paddies, and reedbeds. Prefers areas with a mosaic of shallow water and dense emergent vegetation, but also uses adjacent drier grass for ground gleaning.
