Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Dives (costly) dives (costly)

Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 95-108g  /  Length: 23-25cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species with a confined range from the Yucatan Penninsula to Northern Costa Rica that nonetheless can be one of the more common species within its range. Indeed, its range has actually expanded considerably in recent times with only a single record in Costa Rica prior to 1989 and now it is an established species expected to expand further into Panama.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Dives
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Zanate Cantor
Found in North West
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Euphagus ("good eating") cyanocephalus ("dark blue headed")

Adult male Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) at Monterey, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 63g/kg  /  Length: 20-26cm  /  Wingspan: 39cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A bird that in many ways has the feel of a North American answer to a Jackdaw, they have the same dark plumage, pale eye, upright stance and marching gait that I would associate with that species, not to mention that I also first encountered them in a carpark. Despite all this however, they are not closely related, being a part of the Icterids - better known as the New World Blackbirds.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Euphagus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
A large range resident on the West Coast, Breeding in Northern States as far East as the Great Lakes and Wintering in the South.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  San Francisco and Monterey

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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