#cacicus cela

© Andrea Hinek

© Andrea Hinek

Cacicus cela by Cláudio Dias Timm

These caciques are found in Panama, Trinidad, and much of northern and central South America. Omnivorous, they eat invertebrates, fruit, and nectar, usually foraging along the edges of forests, near bodies of water or other open areas. Breeding in colonies of between 2 and 250, females construct hanging nests near Polistine wasp nests, which help to protect them from mammals and botflies. Males are territorial, breeding with many females, but not assisting with nest building or chick care. Colonies have local song dialects and males that move from one to another adopt the songs of their new colony.