Icteridae

▪ bird family

      songbird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of 88 species of great diversity in size, habits, and diet, found throughout the Americas.

  Members range in size from 16 to 54 cm (6 to 21 inches) long. They have conical bills, strong feet, and long, pointed wings. Most show black in varying degrees. The family includes such common birds as blackbirds (Agelaius; see photograph—>), grackles (Quiscalus), orioles (Icterus), meadowlarks (Sturnella; see photograph—>), cowbirds (Molothrus), and bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Tropical members are the troupials (Icterus icterus), oropendolas (Psarocolius), and caciques (Cacicus).

      Ornithologists refer to these birds as icterids. The Icteridae belongs to the songbird suborder (Passeres).

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