Tityra
Encyclopedia
The tityras are passerine
birds in the genus
Tityra of the family Tityridae
. They are found from southern Mexico
, through Central America
, to northern and central South America
, including Trinidad
.
These are medium-sized birds, typically around 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) long, with large bills. The adult males are greyish-white above and white below, except for the wings and tail which are at least partially black. The males of all three species also have black head markings. The females are similar, but are duller, with browner or greyer head markings. The Black-tailed and the Masked Tityra both have a conspicuous red eye-ring and base of the bill.
nest. The female incubates alone, but both parents feed the chicks. Fledging takes up to 25 days.
Tityras are seen alone or in pairs, perched conspicuously as they feed on medium-sized fruits, large insect
s and sometimes small lizard
s. They have unmusical nasal grunting or buzzing calls.
or the tyrant flycatcher
family, but evidence strongly suggest they are better placed in Tityridae
, where now placed by SACC. The Black-crowned Tityra is sometimes placed in a separate genus Erator.
Another species, the White-tailed Tityra (Tityra leucura), is generally considered a variant of the Black-crowned Tityra, but recent evidence suggests it may be a valid species restricted to the Brazil
ian Amazon
near the Madeira River
.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
birds in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Tityra of the family Tityridae
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...
. They are found from southern 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...
, through Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, to northern and central South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, including Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
These are medium-sized birds, typically around 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) long, with large bills. The adult males are greyish-white above and white below, except for the wings and tail which are at least partially black. The males of all three species also have black head markings. The females are similar, but are duller, with browner or greyer head markings. The Black-tailed and the Masked Tityra both have a conspicuous red eye-ring and base of the bill.
Behavior
These species are found in forest clearings and edges, second growth and other semi-open habitats such as plantation shade trees. The eggs are laid in a bed of dry leaves in a tree hole, often an old woodpeckerWoodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
nest. The female incubates alone, but both parents feed the chicks. Fledging takes up to 25 days.
Tityras are seen alone or in pairs, perched conspicuously as they feed on medium-sized fruits, large insect
Insect
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 and sometimes small lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. They have unmusical nasal grunting or buzzing calls.
Taxonomy
The tityras have traditionally been placed in the cotingaCotinga
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 the tyrant flycatcher
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...
family, but evidence strongly suggest they are better placed in Tityridae
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...
, where now placed by SACC. The Black-crowned Tityra is sometimes placed in a separate genus Erator.
- Black-tailed TityraBlack-tailed TityraThe Black-tailed Tityra is a medium-sized passerine bird of tropical South America. The tityras have been placed in the cotinga or the tyrant flycatcher families by various authors...
, Tityra cayana- Brazilian Tityra, Tityra cayana braziliensis
- Masked TityraMasked TityraThe Masked Tityra is a medium-sized passerine bird. It has traditionally been placed in the cotinga or the tyrant flycatcher family, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC...
, Tityra semifasciata - Black-crowned TityraBlack-crowned TityraThe Black-crowned Tityra is a medium-sized passerine bird. It has traditionally been placed in the cotinga or the tyrant flycatcher family, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Tityra inquisitor
Another species, the White-tailed Tityra (Tityra leucura), is generally considered a variant of the Black-crowned Tityra, but recent evidence suggests it may be a valid species restricted to the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Amazon
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
near the Madeira River
Madeira River
The Madeira River is a major waterway in South America, approximately 3,250 km miles long The Madeira is the biggest tributary of the Amazon...
.