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Summary

The russet-backed oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It is a "noisy and social bird that forages, nests, and roosts in groups".

Taxonomy and systematics

The russet-backed oropendola was formally described in 1824 with the binomial Cassicus angustifrons. Authors placed it variously in genera Xanthornus or Ostinops before it was assigned to its present Psarocolius.

The russet-backed oropendola's further taxonomy is unsettled. The IOC, the Clements taxonomy, AviList, and the independent South American Classification Committee assign it these seven subspecies:

P. a. salmoni (Sclater, PL, 1883) P. a. atrocastaneus (Cabanis, 1873) P. a. sincipitalis (Cabanis, 1873) P. a. neglectus (Chapman, 1914) P. a. oleagineus (Sclater, PL, 1883) P. a. angustifrons (Spix, 1824) P. a. alfredi (Des Murs, 1856)

However, in 2016 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) split P. oleagineus as the species "green-billed oropendola" and as of late 2025 retains it separately. Clements makes a distinction within the species, calling oleagineous the "russet-backed oropendola (green-billed)" and grouping the other six subspecies as the "russet-backed oropendola (russet-backed)". Some authors have suggested that P. a. angustifrons and P. a. oleagineus each be accorded separate species status and the other five subspecies be a third species called the "yellow-billed oropendola". Others have suggested that P. a. neglectus could be a separate species.

"Phenotypic and vocal variation within P. angustifrons is complex and multiple species may be present; however, an integrative study of variation in voice, plumage, and genetics is needed before any changes are made."

This article follows the seven-subspecies model.

Description

Russet-backed oropendola males are 44 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in)...