Other Scientific Names
Agelaius ruficapillus [BirdLife International (2004)], Agelaius ruficapillus [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Agelaius ruficapillus [Stotz et al. (1996)]
Other Names (World)
Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Rufous-headed Blackbird
Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) [XC836356]
by Franco Vushurovich from Bosque de los Constituyentes, Rosario, Argentina (call, song)
Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus) [XC361051]
by Carlos S. Rodrigues from Rio Pia\u00e7aguera, Cubat\u00e3o, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil (call, song)
Subspecies
Genus often subsumed in Agelaius. Behavioural and molecular data indicate that this species is closely related to Yellow-hooded Blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus). Subspecies probably once separated, but now appear to meet and possibly intergrade in south-eastern Brazil (Sío Paulo).
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
frontalis (Vieillot, 1819) - Coast of French Guiana, and eastern Brazil (Amapá, including Marajó I, east to Rio Grande do Norte, then south to Goiás, Minas Gerais and Sío Paulo).
ruficapillus Vieillot, 1819 - Eastern Bolivia (Santa Cruz) and southern Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul east to Sío Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul) south to north-eastern Argentina (north-eastern La Pampa and Buenos Aires) and Uruguay.