27 January 2010, Gamboa, Panama

Caciques are colonial Neotropical blackbirds (Icteridae) with a polygamous
mating system. The heaviest males achieve dominance at the colony where
females outnumber males. Satellite males act as lookouts, but will attempt
to mate with females opportunistically. The nests are a hanging basket,
much smaller than the nests of the related Oropendolas.

This species reaches the northern limits of its range in the Canal Zone
where it is represented by the distinctive race C. c. vitillinus
characterized by orange rather than yellow colors and reduced color in the
wings and tail. These birds are sometimes called "Saffron-rumped Cacique"
and some authors have split them from Yellow-rumped as a separate species.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held
(no adapter)