Montezuma’s Oropendola – Arenal, CR

We photographed this Montezuma’s Oropendola at Arenal Observatory Lodge, where these large, unmistakable birds regularly visited the forest edge. Its chestnut body, black head, pale facial patch, orange-tipped bill, and bright yellow tail made identification easy. Female Montezuma’s Oropendolas weave remarkable hanging nests from plant fibers, often suspending dozens together in large colonies from tall trees. The long, pouch-shaped nests can reach well over a meter in length and sway freely from slender branches. Males add to the spectacle with bubbling calls and dramatic bowing displays that seem designed to impress everyone within earshot. Near San José, birders can also search for this species around the Caribbean foothills of Braulio Carrillo National Park and other lower-elevation forest areas toward the Caribbean slope. At Arenal, the combination of noisy colonies, swinging nests, and boldly colored adults made the Montezuma’s Oropendola difficult to overlook.