The olive oropendola is the largest member of the icterid family and rivals the Amazonian umbrellabird as the largest passerine bird in South America. It is sometimes placed in the genus Gymnostinops instead of Psarocolius. It is found widely – but often in low densities – throughout humid lowland forests of the Amazon Basin, with the notable exception of most of the Guiana Shield. It is sometimes split into two species, the western olive oropendola and the eastern Pará oropendola, but the subspecies P. y. neivae is widely recognized as a hybrid swarm, and the vast majority of authorities consider them a single species.
Region
Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Found throughout humid lowland rainforest across much of the Amazon Basin, including Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. It favors extensive terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea forests, particularly along major rivers and oxbow lakes. Birds often forage in the mid- to upper canopy and frequent forest edges and tall second growth near water. Colonies are typically situated in tall emergent trees in relatively undisturbed forest. It is uncommon or absent across much of the Guiana Shield, where the Green Oropendola predominates.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The olive oropendola is the largest member of the icterid family and rivals the Amazonian umbrellabird as one of the largest passerines in South America. It forms noisy breeding colonies that weave long, pendulous nests high in emergent trees. Taxonomically, it is sometimes placed in the genus Gymnostinops and has been split by some into western (yuracares) and eastern Pará forms, though most authorities treat them as a single species. It occurs widely but often sparsely through humid lowland forests of the Amazon Basin, largely absent from most of the Guiana Shield.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady, purposeful wingbeats
Social Behavior
Highly colonial breeder; dozens of pairs may nest in a single tree, each weaving a long pendulous nest that can exceed a meter in length. Males perform bowing displays and guard harems of females during the breeding season. Outside breeding, birds forage in small groups and may associate loosely with mixed-species flocks in the canopy.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Males deliver rich, bubbling and gurgling songs with metallic overtones, often given during dramatic bowing displays. Calls include rattles, chuckles, and nasal notes that carry far through the canopy.
Plumage
Large, heavy-bodied oropendola with olive to olive-brown body, darker wings, and a contrasting chestnut-tinged head and neck. Tail is bright yellow and contrasts strongly with the body. Bare facial skin patch is bluish and the bill is long, straight, and bicolored. Overall appearance is glossy and sleek with a clean, unspotted plumage.
Diet
Primarily frugivorous, taking a wide variety of rainforest fruits and palms, but also consumes large insects such as beetles and katydids. Will opportunistically take other invertebrates and occasionally small vertebrates or eggs. Often visits fruiting trees and uses its strong bill to pry and pluck food. May sometimes follow primates to snatch disturbed insects or fallen fruits.
Preferred Environment
Forages mostly in the mid- and upper canopy of mature rainforest, along river edges, and around forest gaps and clearings. Frequently attends large fruiting trees and palms near watercourses and oxbows. Less commonly descends to the understory except when commuting to and from colonies.
