Birds Daytime

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Cacicus cela

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A master of mimicry with a flash of gold, the Yellow-rumped Cacique is one of the most social and vocal birds of the tropics. Watch for their striking blue eyes and iconic hanging nests in any canopy-rich backyard.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 23–28 cm (9–11 inches). Weight: 60–100g (2.1–3.5 oz).

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Colors

Glossy black body with brilliant yellow on the rump, wing coverts, and base of the tail. Features striking pale blue eyes and an ivory-colored bill.

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Key Features

Vivid yellow rump and wing patches
Striking pale blue irises
Long, pointed ivory-colored bill
Colonial nester with hanging basket-shaped nests

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 3:30-6 PM

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Season Year-round; most visible during the breeding season from December to May.

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Diet Omnivorous; they forage for large insects and spiders but also consume significant amounts of nectar and tropical fruits like papaya and berries.

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Habitat Forest edges, clearings, open woodlands, and suburban gardens with mature fruiting trees.

Behavior

Yellow-rumped Caciques are the charismatic socialites of the tropical forest edge. Known for their incredible vocal range, these birds are master mimics, often incorporating the calls of other birds, monkeys, or even domestic animals into their complex songs. They are highly gregarious and live in noisy colonies that can include dozens of long, pendulous nests woven from plant fibers. Interestingly, they often choose to build these colonies near wasp nests, utilizing the aggressive insects as a natural security system against predatory monkeys and toucans.

In a backyard or garden setting, they are bold and inquisitive. You will often see them moving in small, active groups, fluttering through the canopy with a distinctive rustling sound created by their stiff wing feathers. While they spend much of their time high in the trees, they are not shy about descending to lower levels to investigate food sources or water baths, making them a delight for backyard observers.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of Yellow-rumped Caciques, height is your best friend. These birds prefer the mid-to-upper canopy, so mounting your camera 8 to 12 feet high on a tree trunk or a balcony railing will get you closer to their eye level. Angle the camera slightly downward toward a sturdy branch or a platform feeder. Because their plumage is a deep, glossy black, they can be difficult to expose correctly. Try to place your camera in an area with filtered sunlight; direct, harsh midday sun will often 'blow out' the bright yellow patches while leaving the black body as a featureless silhouette. The 'golden hour' shortly after sunrise provides the perfect soft lighting to highlight the texture of their feathers and the unique blue of their eyes.

Luring Caciques into your camera’s frame is best achieved with fruit. They are particularly fond of overripe bananas, plantains, and halved oranges. Secure the fruit to a platform feeder or spike it onto a branch within the camera's focal range. If you have a water feature, specifically a birdbath with a dripper or a small fountain, you are much more likely to capture their social interactions. They love the sound of moving water and will often visit in small groups to bathe together, offering a great opportunity for multi-subject shots.

For camera settings, prioritize a fast shutter speed or a high-frame-rate video mode. Caciques are energetic and twitchy; they rarely sit still for long, and their social displays involve a lot of wing-flicking and tail-fanning. If your AI camera has a 'bird' detection mode, ensure it is active, but also consider setting a shorter trigger interval. Since they often travel in groups, a longer recording time (20-30 seconds) will allow you to capture the 'follow-the-leader' behavior as multiple birds visit the site in succession. Lastly, don't forget the audio! Their vocalizations are half the fun, so ensure your camera's microphone is shielded from wind to record their impressive mimicry.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Yellow-rumped Cacique.

Red-rumped Cacique

Similar in shape and color, but replaces the yellow rump patch with a brilliant scarlet red one.

Crested Oropendola

Much larger bird with a chestnut-brown body, a crest on the head, and a tail that is almost entirely yellow.

Golden-winged Cacique

Lacks the bright yellow rump and has dark eyes, whereas the Yellow-rumped Cacique has a yellow rump and bright blue eyes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yellow-rumped Caciques are most active during the early morning hours, from sunrise until about 10 AM, and again in the late afternoon before sunset. This is when they do the majority of their foraging and social singing.

The most effective way to attract them is by providing platform feeders with soft fruits like bananas, papayas, and oranges. They are also highly attracted to the sound of moving water, so adding a solar fountain to a birdbath can be very effective.

They have a varied diet consisting of large insects (like crickets and beetles), spiders, and nectar, but they are primarily known for eating a wide range of tropical fruits.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and are frequently found in suburban areas that have mature trees, parks, or are located near forest edges. They are common sights in many South American cities.

The best way to identify them is by their pale blue eyes and the specific placement of yellow on their rump and wing 'shoulders.' Unlike Oropendolas, they have ivory-colored bills and are significantly smaller.

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