Black-cowled Oriole
Black-cowled OrioleBlack-cowled OrioleBlack-cowled OrioleBlack-cowled Oriole

Black-cowled Oriole

Icterus prosthemelas

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
500 Verified records at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-cowled oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is common and widespread in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama. It lives primarily in humid or semihumid forest, as well as in clearings, along forest edges, in plantations, in semi-open areas with scattered trees and bushes, and in gardens. The adult male is black, with yellow on the belly, shoulder, rump, wing lining, and crissum. The female's plumage varies depending on location. In the south of its range, it is similar to that of the male. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Black-cowled Oriole sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 500 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Hooded Oriole
LC

Hooded Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus cucullatus

50–60% · Likely
Altamira Oriole
LC

Altamira Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus gularis

40–50% · Likely
Orange Oriole
LC

Orange Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus auratus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-backed Oriole
LC

Yellow-backed Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus chrysater

10–20% · With luck
Orchard Oriole
LC Endemic

Orchard Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus spurius

5–10% · Rare
Yellow-tailed Oriole
LC

Yellow-tailed Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus mesomelas

<5% · Rare
Baltimore Oriole
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

<5% · Rare
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-billed Cacique
LC

Yellow-billed Cacique

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amblycercus holosericeus

20–30% · Possible
Bronzed Cowbird
LC

Bronzed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus aeneus

20–30% · Possible
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
20–30
Apr
30–40
May
10–20
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
20–30%
2 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
3 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
4 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
5 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
6 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
7 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
8 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
5–10%
9 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
10 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
11 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
12 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
5–10%
13 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
5–10%
14 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
15 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
16 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
17 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
18 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
19 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
20 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
21 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
22 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
23 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
24 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
25 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-cowled Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

About 24% of wildlife watchers report a Black-cowled Oriole sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 500 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-cowled Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for Black-cowled Oriole in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.

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