Montezuma Oropendola

Yesterday morning there was the strangest noise outside and movement in the trees.  The cluster of palms just behind the herb garden was full of birds. Black, short bright coloured beak, yellow fan-tail, about the size if a football.   They were having a party.  In and out of the palms to the trees behind, constantly moving and sounding off.  There were about 20 of them.

As I had never seen them before I went straight to my friend Google - bird black yellow fan tail Costa Rica. The first image it returned was that of the partiers. (don't ya love technology!)

The Montezuma oropendola is a fascinating bird. This large bright yellow tailed bird (18-20 inches) builds pendulous nests, which cluster in colonies of sometimes 140 or more. The most bizarre feature is Montezuma's unforgettable song, of wheezing, gurgling and popping sounds. The male will execute a complete somersault around a branch while simultaneously singing this medley of sounds.

We saw their nests by the hundreds when we visited Tortuguero several years ago, but never saw the birds.

Turns out they are more chestnut than black but my friend Google allows for those sorts of details.