Written by Peter Pearsall/Photo illustration by Peter Pearsall, using photographs by Dan Streiffert
The New World blackbird family, Icteridae, comprises familiar temperate species such as orioles, meadowlarks, grackles, and cowbirds, as well as tropical species such as caciques and oropendolas.
Icterids are native to the Americas, ranging from boreal Canada to the southern tip of South America. One nomenclatural source of confusion comes from the common names “blackbird” and “oriole”, which were given to many of these New World species by European explorers and naturalists to denote visual and behavioral similarities to Old World species. Ornithologists later determined that icterids are distinct from both Old World orioles (more closely related to vireos) and the Old World blackbird (a thrush).
The Icteridae occupy a variety of habitats, from grasslands and marshes to tropical forests, deserts, and city parks. This adaptability has allowed many species—such as red-winged blackbirds and great-tailed grackles—to thrive alongside human development, while others remain tightly linked to intact ecosystems such as wet meadows and shortgrass prairies.
Icterids possess a generally stout, straight to slightly curved bill, well suited for an omnivorous diet. Many species feed on insects during the breeding season and switch to seeds, fruit, or nectar at other times, making them important agents of both pest control and seed dispersal.
Plumage varies widely. Some icterids are boldly patterned—think of the bright orange of a Bullock’s oriole or the yellow breast and black “V” of a Western meadowlark—while others are glossy black with iridescent blues and purples that shimmer in sunlight. Sexual dimorphism is common, particularly in orioles and meadowlarks, where males are often larger and more brightly colored than females.
These New World blackbirds are a chatty bunch. Meadowlarks produce clear, flute-like songs that carry across open fields, while grackles and blackbirds fill wetlands with metallic calls and chattering choruses. Their propensity for vocalization plays a key role in territory defense, mate attraction, and social cohesion.
Social behavior in icterids ranges from solitary forest dwellers (like some caciques) to enormous mixed-species flocks numbering in the thousands. Breeding strategies are equally varied. Orioles and caciques are skilled weavers, constructing elaborate hanging nests that sway from tree branches, while meadowlarks and bobolinks hide cup nests on the ground amid grasses. Cowbirds dispense with nest-building altogether, instead laying eggs in the nests of other species, leaving the hosts to raise their young.
Icterids play vital roles in ecosystems as insect predators, seed consumers, and prey for larger animals. Their abundance and sensitivity to habitat change also make many species valuable indicators of environmental health, particularly in grasslands and wetlands.
For each Species Spotlight in 2026, we’ll be highlighting Malheur Refuge’s icterid species: those found seasonally, year-round, and as rare vagrants. Stay tuned!
