Scarlet-rumped Cacique - Ecology and Distribution

Ecology and Distribution

The Scarlet-rumped and Pacific Caciques are birds associated with humid lowland primary forest or old secondary forest at up to 1000 m (3,300 ft) ASL. The Scarlet-rumped Cacique is found from Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to Panama (except Darién), while the Pacific Cacique is found from eastern Panama (Darién), through western Colombia, to western Ecuador.

Subtropical Caciques occur at higher altitudes; they have been recorded as high as 2,450 m (8,000 ft) ASL and are found along the eastern slopes of the Andes at altitudes of 1000–2300 m (3300–7500 ft) in submontane or cloud forest, ranging from Venezuela, through Colombia and Ecuador, to Peru, with an isolated population in the Serranía del Perijá. Their habitat has a lower canopy than that of their lowland relatives, dominated by trees of little more than 15-20 (50–65 ft) height, for example oaks (Quercus). Epiphytes, hemiepiphytes like Coussapoa (Urticaceae), and a usually dense understory with tree ferns, Ericaceae, etc. are also typical habitat features.

These caciques forage through the canopy in small flocks. It feeds on large insects, spiders and small vertebrates, but will also take some fruit. It often forms mixed-species feeding flocks with similarly robust and rowdy songbirds, such as other icterids, Black-faced Grosbeaks (Caryothraustes poliogaster), or American jays. Such noisy flocks may also attract trogons or flycatchers.

Unlike some other caciques they are not usually colonial breeders; like them they have a bag-shaped nest. It is built about c. 3.5–30 m (10–100 ft) above ground, in a tree which usually also contains an active wasp nest. The bird's nest is 36–64 cm (14–25 in) long, widens at the base, and is suspended from the end of a branch. The normal clutch is two dark-blotched white eggs. The male will assist in feeding the young, but does not incubate.

The IUCN conservation status of Least Concern applies for the taxon in the broad sense. Both the Scarlet-rumped (in the narrower sense) and the Pacific Cacique are widespread and locally common. The Subtropical Cacique is generally uncommon to rare, but due to its extensive range unlikely to be seriously threatened.