Rose-throated Becard
Encyclopedia
The Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae) is a medium-sized member of the Tityridae
family. Its genus, Pachyramphus
, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae
or Tyrannidae
, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae.
and extreme southern Texas
of the United States
to western Panama
. Breeding is local and sporadic in the USA, and becomes more regular in Mexico
. Birds are normally permanent residents, but any birds found in the US do retreat for the winter.
s, which it will glean
from the vegetation, but captures some in flight as well. They will also take berries
and seed
s.
Tityridae
Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The approximately 30 species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae and Cotingidae . As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although Tityras...
family. Its genus, Pachyramphus
Pachyramphus
Pachyramphus is a genus of bird in the Tityridae family which includes the species commonly known as the becards. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC. Depending on taxonomy, the genus...
, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae
Cotinga
The cotingas are a large family of passerine bird species found in Central America and tropical South America. Cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges, which mostly eat fruit or insects and fruit. Comparatively little is known about this diverse group, although all have broad bills with...
or Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae.
Distribution and habitat
Rose-throated Becards usually occur in riparian areas of pine-oak woodlands and evergreen forest. They breed from south-easternmost ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and extreme southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to western Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. Breeding is local and sporadic in the USA, and becomes more regular in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Birds are normally permanent residents, but any birds found in the US do retreat for the winter.
Description
The most distinguishing characteristics of this bird is the rose-colored neck bib found in adult males. Males are mostly gray in color, with a contrasting darker upperside and a pale gray underside. Males also show a black crown. Females are mostly brown in color, with a rusty brown upperside, and a pale buffy underside. The crown is a dark gray, not nearly as stunning as the males. Its usual call is a mournful "seeeeuuuwww".Breeding
They make a large foot-long globular nest, usually suspended from a tree limb. The entrance hole is found on the bottom. The female lays three to four eggs.Feeding
The becard feeds primarily on insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, which it will glean
Gleaning (birds)
Gleaning is a term for a feeding strategy by birds in which they catch invertebrate prey, mainly arthropods, by plucking them from foliage or the ground, from crevices such as rock faces and under the eaves of houses, or even, as in the case of ticks and lice, from living animals. This behavior is...
from the vegetation, but captures some in flight as well. They will also take berries
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
and seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s.