About Icterus gularis (Wagler, 1829)
The scientific name of this species is Icterus gularis (Wagler, 1829). Adult individuals of both sexes have a black lower mandible, black throat, black back, and a long black tail. Their wings are also black, but the flight feathers (remiges and rectrices) have white fringes. When the wing is folded, these white fringes create one single white wing bar and distinct white wing spots. The secondary coverts form orange shoulder epaulets. The underside of the body is almost uniformly orange, or a yellowish-orange shade. Immature specimens generally have an olive-colored back, with dull yellow coloring on the head and body. First-year birds look similar to adults, but they have an olive back instead of a black one, and a yellow-olive tail. For populations breeding in Texas, the breeding season runs from late April to late July. Their nests take the form of a small hanging pouch, constructed from moss, grass, palm fibers, weeds, and strips of bark, and lined with feathers on the inside. Nests have been recorded hanging from telephone wires. It is assumed that the female builds the nest, but the amount of time required for nest construction is not currently known. Clutches contain 4 to 6 eggs, and both parents share in feeding and caring for the nestlings.
