Biology:Dives (bird)

From HandWiki
Short description: Genus of birds

Dives
Tordo Cantor - panoramio.jpg
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Dives
Cassin, 1867
Type species
Lampropsar dives[1]
Bonaparte, 1850
Species

Dives dives
Dives warczewiczi

Dives is a genus of two Neotropical birds in the family Icteridae.

Description

The two species look similar, with plumage ranging from brownish black in juveniles to black with iridescence (green, blue, or violet) in adults, slightly more iridescent in males. The bare parts are black and the eyes are dark brown. The upper edge of the bill (the culmen) is curved, not flattened as in many other icterids, and the bill has a slight hook at the tip. The songs are varied and pleasant.

Taxonomy

The Cuban blackbird was previously considered a species, but is now considered in its own genus Ptiloxena.

If the ranges of the melodious blackbird and the northern populations of the scrub blackbird overlapped, they would be indistinguishable in the field apart from voice, and some authorities lump these two species into one; on the other hand some split the scrub blackbird into two species.

This genus is believed to be most closely related to Euphagus and Quiscalus.

Species

It contains two species:

Image Common Name Scientific name Distribution
Tordo Cantor - panoramio.jpg Melodious blackbird Dives dives coastal eastern and south-eastern Mexico to Costa Rica.
Scrub Blackbird - South Ecuador S4E7818 (23806878191).jpg Scrub blackbird Dives warczewiczi Ecuador and Peru

Habitat

Both species live in open habitats, including agricultural land, and have adapted well to human disturbance.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q2559171 entry