The scrub blackbird (Dives warczewiczi) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Taxonomy and systematics
The scrub blackbird was formally described by Jean Cabanis in 1861 with the binomial Lamprosar Warczewiczi . The specific epithet honors Josef Ritter von Rawiez Warszewicz and until well into the twentieth century it was spelled by many taxonomic systems the same way as the honoree's name, "WarSzewiczi" (emphasis added). However, because Cabanis misspelled it as "WarCzewiczi" (emphasis added), by the principle of priority that spelling has been restored. The species now shares the genus Dives with the melodious blackbird (D. dives). The two form a superspecies and some early twentieth century authors treated them as conspecific.
The scrub blackbird has two subspecies, the nominate D. w. warczewiczi (Cabanis, 1861) and D. w. kalinowskii (Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1892).
Description
Scrub blackbirds of the nominate subspecies are about 22 cm (9 in) long and those of subspecies D. w. kalinowskii 27 to 31 cm (11 to 12 in). Males of the nominate subspecies weigh an average of 85.5 g (3.0 oz) and females 84 g (3.0 oz). Males of subspecies D. w. kalinowskii weigh an average of 110 g (3.9 oz). The species has a long tail and disproportionately large legs and feet. Both sexes of both subspecies have the same entirely black plumage. The nominate subspecies has a blue to green iridescence and D. w. kalinowskii has a violaceous iridescence. Both subspecies have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and black legs and feet. Juveniles are a duller, slightly glossy, blackish brown.
Distribution and habitat
The nominate subspecies of the scrub blackbird is found from far southwestern Colombia's Nariño Department and Gorgona Island off its shore south through western Ecuador into northwestern Peru as far as La Libertad Department. Subspecies D. w. kalinowskii...
