Agelaius (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! American blackbirds are birds belonging to the genus Agelaius in the New World family Icteridae. This genus includes 11 species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. The males are typically black with some colorful patches, such as on the shoulders or head. Females are drab and somewhat resemble American sparrows. The Icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The name, meaning "jaundiced ones" (from the prominent yellow feathers of many species) comes from the Ancient Greek ikteros, through the Latin ictericus. This group includes the New World blackbirds, New World orioles, the Bobolink, meadowlarks, grackles, cowbirds, oropendolas and caciques.