Birds diurnal

Red-rumped Cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

A master of mimicry with a flash of fire on its back, the Red-rumped Cacique brings a touch of tropical drama to any backyard. Watch for its piercing blue eyes and listen for its incredible repertoire of stolen songs.

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Quick Identification

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Size

23–30 cm (9–12 in) in length; weighs 70–110g (2.5–3.9 oz). Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females.

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Colors

Deep glossy black body with a brilliant scarlet-red patch on the lower back and rump. Features a pale ivory or greenish-yellow bill and striking pale blue or white irises.

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Key Features

Glossy jet-black plumage with a vivid red rump
Pointed ivory-colored bill
Piercing pale blue or white eyes
Long, bag-like woven nests hanging in colonies

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

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Season Year-round, with peak visibility during the breeding season (typically August to February) when nesting activity is high.

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Diet Omnivorous; feeds primarily on various tropical fruits, berries, and nectar, supplemented by large quantities of insects and spiders gleaned from leaves.

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Habitat Humid lowland forests, forest edges, secondary growth, and suburban gardens with mature, tall trees.

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Behavior

Red-rumped Caciques are boisterous, highly social birds known for their complex colonial nesting habits. They live in groups where dozens of long, pendulous nests can be seen hanging from the same tree, often choosing branches near wasp nests for added protection against predators. They are incredibly vocal and are considered master mimics, effortlessly imitating the calls of other birds, mammals, and even mechanical sounds they hear in their environment.

In the backyard setting, they are energetic and inquisitive. While they spend much of their time in the canopy, they are not shy about descending to lower levels if food or water is available. They exhibit a fascinating social hierarchy, particularly among males who perform elaborate bowing displays and wing-shivering to attract mates during the breeding season. Their presence is usually marked by a constant stream of whistles, squawks, and chattering.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Red-rumped Cacique on camera, height is your best friend. These birds are canopy dwellers by nature, so mounting your AI-powered camera 10 to 15 feet up in a tree or on a second-story balcony overlooking the garden will yield the best results. If you are restricted to ground-level mounting, aim your camera upward at a 45-degree angle toward a known perching branch or a tall bird bath. They are creatures of habit and will often use the same 'staging' branches before descending to feed.

While they don't frequent standard seed feeders, you can successfully lure them into your camera's field of view using 'fruit-spiking.' Secure halved oranges, overripe bananas, or chunks of papaya to a platform feeder or even directly onto a tree limb using floral wire. The bright colors of the fruit act as a visual attractant. Position the camera about 5-8 feet away from the fruit to ensure the AI can clearly distinguish the bird's ivory bill and blue eyes against its dark feathers.

Lighting is critical for this species because their black plumage can easily become a 'black hole' in digital photos. Try to position your camera so the sun is behind it during the morning hours. This 'front-lighting' will illuminate the iridescence of their feathers and make the scarlet rump patch pop. If your camera has adjustable settings, a slightly faster shutter speed is recommended, as caciques are restless and prone to sudden, jerky movements.

Finally, keep an eye out for their nesting sites. If you have a colony in or near your yard, place a camera with a wide-angle lens focused on the hanging nests. The activity during the morning 'rush hour'—with birds flying in and out with nesting material or food for chicks—provides some of the most compelling wildlife footage you can find in South American backyards.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-rumped Cacique.

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Smaller in size with a different vocal range; its red rump patch is often less extensive and its iris color can vary by subspecies.

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Easily distinguished by the bright yellow patch on its lower back and wing coverts instead of red.

Solitary Cacique

Entirely black without the red rump, and as the name suggests, it does not nest in large, noisy colonies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red-rumped Caciques are most active during the early morning hours just after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk. This is when they do the majority of their foraging and vocalizing.

The best way to attract them is by providing overripe tropical fruits like bananas, papayas, and oranges on a high platform feeder. Planting native nectar-rich flowers and maintaining tall, mature trees will also encourage them to visit.

They have an omnivorous diet consisting of wild fruits, berries, and nectar. They also eat a significant amount of protein in the form of insects, caterpillars, and spiders caught in the treetops.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and are frequently found in suburban neighborhoods, especially those with plenty of lush vegetation, gardens, and proximity to forest fragments.

While they share the same shape and ivory bill, the Red-rumped Cacique has a bright red patch on its lower back, whereas the Yellow-rumped Cacique has a bright yellow patch. Their vocalizations also differ significantly.

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