New World Blackbirds (Icteridae)

Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) - HBW 16, p. 794

French: Carouge chopi German: Chopistärling Spanish: Chopí

Taxonomy: Agelaius chopi Vieillot, 1819, Paraguay.
Molecular data suggest an isolated position for this species, but in external morphology it seems closer to Oreopsar bolivianus and Curaeus curaeus; in nesting behaviour and voice it resembles Agelaioides badius. Race megistus sometimes subsumed in sulcirostris. Latter apparently intergrades with nominate in E Brazil (N Minas Gerais, possibly also Goiás). Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • sulcirostris (Spix, 1824) - NE Brazil E from Maranhão and Ceará and S to Bahia and N Minas Gerais (possibly also N Goiás).
  • chopi (Vieillot, 1819) - C & E Brazil (C Mato Grosso E to Goiás, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo) S to NE Argentina (S to Santa Fe and Entre Ríos) and Uruguay.
  • megistus (Leverkühn, 1889) - extreme SE Peru (Pampas de Heath and Madre de Dios) E to E Bolivia (La Paz, Beni and Santa Cruz).