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A black crested oropendola with a yellow tail and pale bill clinging to a stem.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

A black-and-yellow South American bird that weaves long hanging nests, with males that bow upside down to court females.

🐦 Songbirds
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About the Crested Oropendola

Crested oropendolas are 14 to 18 inches long and mostly black, with a chestnut rump, a bright yellow tail, a pale bill and blue eyes. They live along forest edges and clearings from Costa Rica to northeastern Argentina, including much of the Amazon. Females weave teardrop-shaped nests of palm leaves high in trees; some reach 6 feet long.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Psarocolius decumanus[1]
Size
14 to 18 inches long.[1]
Weight
6 to 10.5 ounces.[1]
Lifespan
Up to 20 years in human care.[1]
Diet
Omnivore. Large insects, fruit, nectar and small animals.[1]
Habitat
Tropical lowland forest edges and clearings.[1]
Where it lives
Costa Rica to northeastern Argentina, including much of the Amazon.[1]
Group life
Flocks of 15 to 30 females and 3 or 4 males.[1]
Babies
Two eggs, incubated 17 to 19 days.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).[2]

Fun facts

  • Oropendola nests can be up to 6 feet long.[1]
  • Courting males bow so far forward they hang upside down.[1]
  • Their preening oil gives them a musky smell.[1]

Vocabulary

brood parasite
A bird that lays its eggs in another bird's nest for them to raise.
pendulum
Something that swings back and forth from a fixed point.
courtship
Behavior animals use to attract a mate.
colony
A large group of animals of one kind that live or nest together.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Crested Oropendola.” https://www.sfzoo.org/crested-oropendola/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Psarocolius decumanus (Crested Oropendola).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22723982/138239106 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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