Icterus icterus jamaicaii

Icterus icterus jamaicaii (campo troupials or campo orioles) is a Neotropical species found exclusively in northeastern Brazil. This range extends south to include the regions of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999; Omland, et al., 1999; Ridgely and Tudor, 1989)

Icterus icterus jamaicaii lives at low elevations and occupies dry habitats such as the Caatinga zone, a region in Northern Brazil composed of shrublands and tall cacti. This species can also be found on the edges of forests, dry savanna, woodlands with deciduous trees, and in other open areas within the Caatinga zone. Icterus icterus jamaicaii may be found at elevations of up to 500 m above sea level. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999; Ridgely and Tudor, 1989)

Icterus icterus jamaicaii adults share many similarities with other troupial species, however, it also has distinct features that make it morphologically different such as the size of its ocular patch. Campo troupials significantly lack the ocular patch that is common to the other two troupial species. This species measures 23 to 23.5 cm in length and features a wingspan of 105 to 107 mm.

Campo troupials are beautiful birds with striking orange, black, and white plumage. They feature a black hood, breast, and wings. The black wings are patterned with white and orange feathers. The feathers of the upper and lower back are orange, as are those of the rump and upper tail. The upper parts, the lower back, and the area from the lower breast to the undertail are orange as well. Campo troupials' tails are solid black, unlike the black and white patterned tails of Venezuelan troupials. Feathers of the breast and throat are pointed, similar to orange-backed troupials. The legs and feet are grey and the eyes are orange-yellow.

Female campo troupials are very similar to males both in size and color. A 2008 study conducted by Hoffman, Cronin, and Omland showed that there is very little difference in the color saturation of male and female breast feathers. The same study also verified that there is little to no difference between the throat feathers of the two sexes. Like most other tropical species, campo troupials are observed to be sexually monomorphic.

Juvenile I. icterus jamaicaii are not very different from adults in color. The black in the adult is replaced by a dull brownish-black color, and the under-parts are a dull orange-yellow color rather than bright orange. They also have darker eyes than adults.

Immature I. icterus jamaicaii are similar to adults with the exception of brown secondaries and primaries. Some immature I. icterus jamaicaii may still have a few brown tail feathers, as opposed to adults' solid black tails. The brown tail feathers are remnants from juvenile plumage. (Hofmann, et al., 2008; Jaramillo and Burke, 1999; Price, et al., 2007; Ridgely and Tudor, 1989; Sclater, 1886; Tudor and Ridgely, 2009)

All members of the genus are thought to be socially monogamous. There is speculation that tropical species including I. icterus jamaicaii may have lifelong pair bonds. (Price, et al., 2009)

The breeding season for I. icterus jamaicaii occurs in February. Currently, there is no other information about reproduction in this species.

It is known that the closely related I. icterus produces 3 eggs per clutch. It takes 21 to 23 days for its young to fledge. Once the young leave the nest they travel with their families for an unknown period of time. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

There is not a significant amount of information about the extent of parental investment in I. icterus jamaicaii. However, it is known that before breeding this species is either found alone, or with its mate, but once it breeds it is found in a group with its family. This particular characteristic of I. icterus jamaicaii may be an indication of the extent of its parental investment.

Parental investment in this species also includes providing yolk to the egg and providing a nest for the offspring. Icterus icterus jamaicaii is known to steal nests which are used as shelter for its offspring. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

There is no record of the lifespan of campo troupials.

There are both male and female songs in this species, and the breeding season is characterized by a great deal of singing. While singing this bird also exhibits a physical display that is made up of an extended neck, raised tail, downward pointed bill, and display of neck feathers. Similar to some other birds, this species makes notable swishing sounds as it flies.

Similar to other troupials, I. icterus jamaicaii is a “nest pirate.” It settles into abandoned nests or takes over nests that belong to other birds. Campo troupials prefer domed stick nests built by firewood-gatherers (Anumbius annumbi) and caatinga cacholotes (Pseudoseisura cristata). It has also been found to use nests built by great kiskadees (Pitangus sulphuratus) and rufous horneros (Furnarius rufus). (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

There is no available information on the home range of I. icterus jamaicaii; however, it is known that this species does not seasonally migrate. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

Like other species of birds, I. icterus jamaicaii communicates through sounds, specifically songs. Its songs are similar to that of other Icterus species, and is composed of simple whistled phrases. However, compared to the songs of I. croconotus, the songs of I. icterus jamaicaii are longer. In addition to their characteristic songs, caged members of this species can be taught different tunes. It is common practice in Brazil for owners of this bird to teach it the Brazilian National Anthem!

Its calls sound like: "prru". (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999; Perlo, 2009)

There is no detailed information about the food habits of campo troupials in the literature, however, most Icterus include fruit, nectar, and arthropods in their diets. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

There are no identified predators of I. icterus jamaicaii.

Campo troupials are nest pirates. They not only move into abandoned nests but also take over occupied nests. Orange-backed troupials do the same, and that species may even kill the occupants of the nests during the invasion. Regardless, campo troupials likely have a negative effect on populations of other bird species such as: firewood-gatherers, rufous cacholotes, great kiskadees, and rufous horneros.

Even though they are nest pirates, campo troupials are occasionally host to nest parasites such as shiny cowbirds.

As the diet of campo troupials includes fruits, these birds may disperse seeds as they forage. (Jaramillo and Burke, 1999)

Icterus icterus jamaicaii is frequently caught and traded in Brazil. It is often kept as a pet caged bird in local homes. (Alves, et al., 2009)

There is no information suggesting that this species has a negative impact on humans.

Currently the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists I. icterus jamaicaii as least concern given it's wide geographic range and stable population size. However, I. icterus jamaicaii is prevalently hunted in the Caatinga zone in Brazil. There have been calls to place stricter regulations on the hunting or capturing of I. icterus jamaicaii and other birds living in the region. (Alves, et al., 2009)

The information present in the literature about the species I. icterus jamaicaii is limited, in part because it has not yet been studied much as a separate species. The majority of the literature treats it as a subspecies within I. icterus or simply neglects it. As a result I. icterus jamaicaii presents an interesting case study in where taxonomists draw species boundaries.

The best available source that not only recognizes I. icterus jamaicaii as a species but also has an extensive account on the related species is Jaramillo and Burke’s 1999 “New World Blackbirds: The Icterids.” Other sources are contradictory when it comes to the acknowledgment of I. icterus jamaicaii as a species. There is a recognizable pattern in the literature that shows how this species and its two other closely related species, I. icterus and I. croconotus, have been categorized throughout history.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s I. icterus, I. icterus jamaicaii, and I. croconotus were originally described as three separate species. Sclater (1886) recognizes I. icterus jamaicaii and I. croconotus as distinct species. Bond (1953) claims that I. icterus jamaicaii and I. croconotus are two entirely different species. Ridgway (1902) treats the Troupial Complex as three separate species as well.

Later these three species were all lumped into a single species, I. icterus. In other words they were classified as I. i. croconotus, I. i. jamacaii, and I. i. icterus! Ridgely and Tudor (1989) claim that these birds form three main groups and that although I. icterus and I. icterus jamaicaii are geographically separate they should be considered as one species. Sibley and Monroe (1990) name I. i. icterus and I. i. jamacaii, and do not separate I. croconotus. Three years later, Monroe and Sibley (1993) list I. icterus jamaicaii and I. croconotus as subspecies within I. icterus. Hilty (2003) also treats I. icterus jamaicaii and I. croconotus as subspecies within I. icterus.

Since the late 1990s the three species have generally been separated. Many other oriole species that had been lumped during the 1960s to 1980s are also now considered separate species (e.g. Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, and Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus abeillei).

Although there has been decades of inconsistency in the classification of these three species, there is an emerging consensus among the most recent sources that I. icterus, I. croconotus, and I. icterus jamaicaii are three separate species. (Bond, 1953; Clements, 2007; Hilty, 2003; Jaramillo and Burke, 1999; Monroe and Sibley, 1993; Perlo, 2009; Ridgely and Tudor, 1989; Ridgway, 1902; Sclater, 1886; Sibley and Monroe, 1990; Tudor and Ridgely, 2009)