Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) [XC260030]
by John V. Moore from Sucumb\u00edos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank R\u00edo Napo, Ecuador (call, song, calls)
Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) [XC3163]
by Dan Lane from Near Trinidad, along the road to Santa Cruz, Beni, Bolivia (call)
Subspecies
Analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggests relationship with morphologically very different Oriole Blackbird (Gymnomystax mexicanus). Some subspecies, especially boliviensis, may merit full species status.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
guianensis Cabanis, 1849 - Venezuela (Sucre and north-eastern Monagas south to north-eastern Bolívar; north-western Amazonas) and north-western Guyana, north-eastern Colombia (north-eastern Vichada), and extreme northern Brazil (Roraima).
tanagrinus (Spix, 1824) - Amazon Basin in eastern Ecuador, southern Colombia (Amazonas), north-eastern Peru (Loreto and Ucayali) and western Brazil (Amazonas east to lower R Negro and R Madeira).
macropterus Gyldenstolpe, 1945 - Western Brazil (upper R Juruá in Acre and western Amazonas).
violaceus Hellmayr, 1906 - West-central Brazil (north-western Mato Grosso).
boliviensis Gyldenstolpe, 1941 - Eastern Bolivia (Beni and Santa Cruz).