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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Perching Birds (Order Passeriformes)

-Tityras and Allies (Family Tityridae)

-Becards (Genus Pachyramphus)

-Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae)


The Rose-throated Becard is found throughout a large part of Mexico and Central America. It is a small flycatcher with gray upperparts, large head with black cap, pale rose-red throat, and pale gray underparts. They feed mainly on insects and spiders, but will also feed on seeds and berries. The nest of a Rose-throated Becard is a large, football-shaped structure hanging down from a tree branch, with a hole near the bottom.

Rose-throated Becard - Female

Pachyramphus aglaiae

Diet

  • Primarily insects, including caterpillars, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, cicadas, and spiders.

  • Also feeds on berries, small fruits, and occasionally nectar.

  • Forages in the middle and upper canopy, gleaning insects from foliage or making short aerial sallies to catch flying prey.

Range

  • Found from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica.

  • Widespread throughout much of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, woodland edges, gallery forests, thorn scrub, second-growth woodland, plantations, parks, and gardens, generally from sea level to about 2,000 m.

Male vs. Female

  • Male: Pale gray head and underparts, black crown and upperparts, black wings with white markings, and a distinctive rose-pink throat patch that is most visible during the breeding season.

  • Female: Rich cinnamon-brown upperparts with buff underparts, grayish head, and lacks the rose throat patch.

  • The sexes are easily distinguished by their markedly different plumage.

Size

  • Length: 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in)

  • Wingspan: 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in)

  • Weight: 24–34 g

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