Masked Yellowthroat
Masks Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis aequinoctialis )
The masks Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis aequinoctialis ) is a small passerine bird in the genus of Common Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis ) from the family of warblers ( Parulidae ). It is a widespread species in Central America and South America. From the IUCN she is described as " not at risk " out ( least concern ).
Features
Masks Yellowthroat reach a body length of 13-14 cm and a weight of 11.2 to 15.0 grams. In the adult males of the nominate form of the front head, the reins, the area around the eyes and the ear-coverts form a striking black mask. The crown plumage is medium gray and the sides of the neck, the neck, the upper side of the tail feathers and olive green. The wings are dull brown with olive green feather edges. The underside plumage is yellow with olive washed-out sides of breast and flanks. The bill is blackish and the legs are flesh-colored.
When adult females of the nominate the olive crown feathers and ear-coverts olive are easily washed out gray. The area over the reins and the eye-ring is yellow-white. The upper plumage is duller side than in the males and more greyish -olive or brownish -olive, the underside plumage dull yellow with more olive blurred edges than in the males.
Male fledglings in the first year have a slightly dumpferes appearance than the adult males in fresh plumage. The gray crown plumage is washed olive and olive washed-out black mask is duller. In the further course of the first year they are similar in appearance to the adult males.
In the female fledglings in the first year, the fresh plumage is duller than the adult females. The head and top plumage is more brownish -olive and the underside plumage bright yellowish- colored leather with more extensive olive washed flanks.
Habitat, nutrition and reproduction
Masks Yellowthroat inhabit moist grassy meadows, marshes, seasonally flooded savannas, forest edges and clearings with dense undergrowth up to an altitude of 1500 meters. The subspecies Geothlypis a auricular preferably further undergrowth and bushes in the open area of dry tropical forests. The birds feed on insects and other invertebrates. In their wanderings they are usually in pairs insidiously in the dense undergrowth on the go. When they are disturbed, they fly for a short distance above the vegetation and go out of sight back. When singing males prefer fairly high, exposed Sing wait. In Chiriquí, in the southwest of Panama, it sometimes comes at the subspecies Geothlypis a chiriquensis to Singflug.
The deep, cup -shaped nest is well hidden in the grass and built in bushes. As nesting material grasses are used for lining and fine plant fibers. The breeding season is prolonged. A recording is available via the subspecies Geothlypis a chiriquensis in Costa Rica with a two- egg clutches in May. Prepare reproductive animals were some of the nominate spotted in Colombia By January to May and in August, and on Trinidad in February, May, August and October.
Systematics and distribution
Traditionally, the five recognized subspecies are divided into three groups, but with four genetically diverse Allospezies that should be considered as distinct species. Allozymes findings have shown that within the four species groups are involved, with the exception of the subspecies Geothlypis a peruviana, which is considered at a splitting may be a subspecies of the then independent type Geothlypis (a.) auricular.
" Masks " Yellowthroat Group ( "Masked " Yellowthroat )
- Geothlypis (a.) aequinoctialis ( JF Gmelin, 1789) - Comes in the north of South America before ( from northern Colombia and Venezuela south-east to the Amazon region in northern Brazil and Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana).
- Geothlypis (a.) velata ( Vieillot, 1809) - deposits are found in the central South America ( from southeastern Peru, Bolivia and southern Amazon region in Brazil to the south to central Argentina and Uruguay). This subspecies is smaller than the nominate. The male has a slightly narrower black mask and head plumage is more gray, which extends laterally of the black mask on the sides of the neck and in the neck.
" Black reins " Yellowthroat Group ( "Black -lored " Yellowthroat )
- Geothlypis (a.) auricular Salvin, 1883 - Widespread in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. This subspecies is markedly smaller than the nominate. In the males, the black mask limited to the reins, to a narrow band across the forehead, in the area over the reins and on the front ear-coverts.
- Geothlypis a peruviana Taczanowski, 1884 - Distribution limited to the upper valley of the River Marañón in northwestern Peru. Similar to the subspecies Geothlypis (a.) auricular, but larger; similar to the nominate form. The gray crown plumage is slightly duller and brighter.
" Chiriqui " Yellowthroat Group ( " Chiriqui " Yellowthroat )
- Geothlypis (a.) chiriquensis Salvin, 1872 - Comes in the canton of Coto Brus in the province of Puntarenas in southern Costa Rica before and in the adjacent Chiriquí in southwestern Panama. Resembles the nominate in the head plumage and in size of the subspecies Geothlypis (a.) auricular. In this subspecies the black mask is most extensive in the males on.