06/10/2026
Yellow-rumped Cacique
We woke early for breakfast and, before long, the excitement of seeing new birds drove us outside.
Having never been to South America before, this was a brand new species for me. In fact, the next 350 or so were new too!
The Yellow-rumped Caciques were impossible to ignore. They were noisy, active, and were all around the property. On that first morning, every new bird felt exciting. As the days passed, however, we paid less attention—not because they weren't interesting, but because there were hundreds more species waiting to be discovered.
Looking back through my photos, I wish I had spent a bit more time with them.
They are wonderfully distinctive birds, with a long pointed yellow bill, striking blue eyes, and flashes of bright yellow plumage. They didn't always show this much yellow, so I was pleased to capture this individual squawking from the treetops with its feathers flared.
I've also included a few wider "environmental" shots to show the setting where we encountered them.
Surama Eco-Lodge
