Cacique and Oropendola Bird Calabash Christmas tree ornament and hand rattle
These unique Christmas tree ornaments and rattles are made from calabash tree pods (gourds) by native artisans from the Ampiyacu River region of the Peruvian Amazon. This rattle features the figure of a yellow-rumped cacique - one of the dozen or so species of highly social caciques and oropendolas which are best-known for their habit of weaving nests that hang down from the branches of trees.
These colonial nesters usually feed on insects and fruit. One can often spot a tree near a river's edge festooned with scores of nests and hear a cacophony of whistles, chirps and sounds resembling loud drops of water. Their black bodies typically have sharply contrasting patches of yellow or orange.
This rattle has a chambira palm fiber chord allows it to be hung from a Christmas tree. The beads inside also make it a great rattle that fits in the palm of your hand.
Please remember that the artisan carves these rattles one at a time so the exact design of the animal and shape of the calabash pod will vary from the photo shown of this model.
Model: ORWB016
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