Enjoy the Song of the Guayabitos Flasher
Tara A. Spears
It’s such a pleasure to stroll around the coastal residential neighborhoods enjoying the tropic weather and admiring the lovely homes. Suddenly, a quick movement, just a glint of gold against the cobalt sky, streaks past. Hmmm, the birds that are sitting in the near trees are dark, guess I imagined it. But no, a bird takes flight, and sure enough, a brilliant yellow tail and underside. Meet the flashy Altamira Oriole, the tropic member of the North American blackbird family, the Oropendola. (‘Oro” is Spanish for gold.)
The Altama oriole’s preferred habitat is lowlands and lower foothills in open dry woods, forest edge, streamside groves, scattered trees in open country such as highway edgings; these birds usually avoid unbroken humid forest.
This big tropical oriole is common throughout most of Mexico and resides in the Jaltemba Bay area. These energetic birds have several unique features besides their vivid coloration: charming songs and weird nests of fibers and woven vines at the end of a branch that sway in the breeze are the most obvious. It is very vocal, with a wide range of songs and even mimicry-whistle a tune and they will respond with a similar tone. These gregarious birds eat large insects, seeds, grain, fruit, and nectar.
This species is part of the larger passerine family that is the scientific designation for perching songbirds. They are social and tend to gather in flocks: I have undeveloped land on three sides of my house which attracts groups of birds and provides for nests. I enjoy being flashed and serenaded each morning as I enjoy morning coffee on the patio.
Another interesting feature of these colorful tropic birds is that they have a specially adapted foot with three toes pointing forward, and one toe directed backwards to enable them to perch on vertical surfaces such as trees and cliffs. The Altamira Orioles have pointed bills and long tails that are always at least partially bright yellow. The males are larger and a different color that the females.
According to Audubon Field guild, each colony has a dominant male, which mates with most of the females in the flock following an elaborate bowing display. The female lays four or fewer eggs. The eggs are pale bluish white, blotched with black and lavender. The incubation behavior is poorly known but probably lasts about two weeks. Both parents feed the nestlings. The babies mature and fledge in about four weeks. The young Oriole birds are much duller in body color and bill. Outside of the breeding season, Altamira Orioles are mobile and follow some seasonal movement. They are still very active in the Jaltemba Bay area.
If you wish to get up close and personal with these flashy birds, place orange slices around your yard. Whether you’re enjoying the sunset or just relaxing on your patio, keep a lookout for the delightful Altamira Oriole birds – great Riviera Nayarit neighbors.