Orange-backed Troupial Gallery

Icterus croconotus

The Birds of the World website introduces the Orange-backed Troupial with this descriptive information:  All of the different troupial populations were formerly regarded as representing a single species, but nowadays three different species are recognized, of which the Orange-backed Troupial is the most widespread and the southern and western representative. It is found over much of the lowlands of northern and western Amazonia, and south to Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, and the species is generally found in close proximity to water. Compared to both of the other species of troupial, the adult Orange-backed Troupial differs chiefly in lacking a complete black hood, and a much more extensive orange-colored mantle. It also has significantly less white in the wings than in the Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus). Recent observations in the state of Tocantins, in north-central Brazil, have found some local contact between the present species and the Campo Troupial (Icterus jamacaii), which is endemic to northeast Brazil.

I met my first Orange-backed Troupial on the morning of Tuesday, August 23, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Santa Tereza Lodge and I watched a couple of these birds during an afternoon boat ride on the Rio Sararé, which is near the lodge.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a few of my photos of these brightly colored birds.