# Venezuelan Troupial (*Icterus icterus*) The Venezuelan Troupial is a bright orange and black bird that loves to sing! It has a beautiful, cheerful song that can be heard in the trees and gardens. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, forests - **Also known as:** Troupial ![Venezuelan Troupial](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/A_Troupial_on_a_cactus_in_Cura%C3%A7ao.jpg&width=800) Photo: Lswarte, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Troupial_on_a_cactus_in_Cura%C3%A7ao.jpg) ## Appearance The Venezuelan Troupial has a strikingly bold appearance with a bright orange body, contrasted by a black head, bib, wings, and tail. A prominent white patch on each wing makes it visually distinct from other orange birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Icteridae - **Genus:** Icterus ## Interesting facts - Did you know the Venezuelan Troupial is the proud national bird of Venezuela? Wow! - Some people keep them as pets just to hear their incredibly beautiful and varied songs. - Their vibrant orange feathers are a natural warning to predators, making them think twice! - These clever birds don't always build their own nests; they often "borrow" abandoned ones! ## Special abilities - **Sound Weaver:** Venezuelan Troupial can mimic calls of other birds and sounds from its environment, which helps them communicate and maybe even deter rivals. - **Home Invader:** Venezuelan Troupial often takes over the nests of other bird species, saving energy and providing a ready-made home for its chicks. - **Color Communicator:** Venezuelan Troupial has vivid orange and black plumage that signals its presence and health to potential mates and rivals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-25 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-36 cm - **Weight:** 0.058-0.072 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 13-14 days ## Diet & Feeding This bird eats a mix of juicy fruits, sweet nectar, and crunchy insects to stay healthy! - **Primary Foods:** fruits, insects, nectar, small lizards, spiders, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Boa Constrictor (*Boa constrictor*) — Their eggs and chicks can be prey for large snakes. - **Eats:** [Brown Anole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-anole) (*Anolis sagrei*) — Often hunts small lizards as part of its varied diet. - **Eats:** Shortleaf Fig (*Ficus citrifolia*) — Feeds on the sweet fruits of various fig tree species. - **Depends on:** Tropical Mockingbird (*Mimus gilvus*) — Often takes over the abandoned nests of this and other bird species. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Venezuelan Troupial? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Venezuelan Troupial? 23-25 cm ### What is Venezuelan Troupial's wingspan? 30-36 cm ### How much does Venezuelan Troupial weigh? 0.058-0.072 kg ### How long does Venezuelan Troupial live? 8-10 years ### How fast can Venezuelan Troupial move? 40 km/h ### What does Venezuelan Troupial eat? This bird eats a mix of juicy fruits, sweet nectar, and crunchy insects to stay healthy! ### Where is Venezuelan Troupial usually found? Urban areas, forests ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Venezuelan Troupial: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/venezuelan-troupial)