Prior to 1989 there was only one Costa Rican record, but it is now easily seen at least as far south as San José, and it is expected to colonize Panama.

The melodious blackbird inhabits a wide range of habitats, but avoids dense forest and thick undergrowth.

The melodious blackbird forages mainly on the ground for insects but will also take nectar and ripening maize ears as well as other plants, such as the fruits of the gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) and Trophis racemosa.

[2] Breeding birds are highly territorial, and adults will attack predators like the brown jay, but small flocks form outside the nesting season.

Both sexes build a cup nest of plant material 3–7 m (9.8–23.0 ft) high in a bush or tree and line it with mud and dung.