Chopi Blackbird

Gnorimopsar chopi (Vieillot)

Many years ago (Friedmann, 1934:346) it was noted that Azara, in the opening years of the nineteenth century, had written that his Indian assistant, Noseda, had found this bird to be parasitized by the shiny cowbird, but he gave no definite records. Noseda's observations were probably made in southern Paraguay. Later, Sobrino made an observation similar to Noseda's in the province of Minas Gerais, Brazil, but, again, mentioned no specific instances (Friedmann, 1938:45). The first definite specimen record seems to be a set of 3 eggs of the host and 2 of the parasite (M. bonariensis melanogyna), taken in Arcos, Minas Gerais, October 1925, now in the Delaware Museum of Natural History. We are indebted to Mr. John E. du Pont for information about this set.

BROWN-AND-YELLOW MARSHBIRD

The chopi blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is monotypic within the genus Gnorimopsar. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest.

The chopi blackbird is 25 cm (9.8 in) in length and has black plumage across the body. It is similar to the Forbes's blackbird but has a slightly curved bill with a groove along the lower mandible. The call is a loud explosive "tjouw", either given as a single call or as a series that vary randomly in pitch.

The diet of this species is poorly known, but they have been observed feeding on arthropods and fruit, and there are recorded instances of them feeding on frogs and even preying on birds.