Yellow-rumped Cacique

The Yellow-rumped Cacique - what a funny name for a bird! Its name probably comes from the Indian Cacique, akin to a village chief. This name, as it was 'Hispanized' now describes a notable important in the community. Our bird is also a subject of stories in Peruvian folklore; called Paucar, it was supposedly a young man who always wore a black trousers with a yellow jacket. One day, this man accused an old woman who was actually a fairy in disguise; the fairy then took her revenge by turning the man into a noisy wandering bird. It should be noted that our cacique is presumed to be a bird of good omen!
A large passereau (a large passerine bird), with the male measuring 28 cm. The dominant colour is a slightly glossy black, visually striking with its bright yellow markings on its greater and median coverts. These markings vary between individuals and the subspecies; ssp presents a much more yellow colouration on all of its coverts, while ssp vittelinus has its yellow marking mostly restricted to its greater coverts. A yellow colour also appears on other parts of the bird, such as its lower belly, rumps and undertail coverts, making the Yellow-rumped Cacique unmistakable and giving certainty of its identification. Its tail feathers are black and its tarsi (tarsometatarsus) are clad in the same black plumage, with steel-grey coloured tarsi. Its beak is ivory-white, almost cream, long and strong at the base, giving the Yellow-rumped Cacique a sometimes unfriendly appearance. Its pupil is black, with a sky blue eye-ring around it highly visible.
There is little difference between the sexes; females, in general, have a duller yellow colour. The young do not have their parents' sky blue eye ring.