Moustached Flowerpiercer

Bart hooked beak

The beard hooked beak ( Diglossa mystacalis ) is a species of bird in the family of tanagers ( Thraupidae ). The species occurs in Bolivia and Peru. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The beard hooked beak reaches a body length of about 13 to 14.5 centimeters. The plumage is glossy black predominate. The rump is tinted blue-black. Below the cheeks there is a red-brown beard line. The upturned black bill has a hooked tip.

Distribution and habitat

One finds the bird in cloud forests and thickets of wet páramo at altitudes of 2400-3700 meters. Often you can see it also at the forest edges near the tree line.

Behavior

Only during the breeding season they are in pairs on the go, otherwise they are regarded as a loner. They can be seen climbing around acrobatically between branches before they then head for the nearest tree. Reports indicate that they preferred to explore the corollas of ericaceous. When foraging, they are usually in the lower Stratifikationsschichten around and collecting beneath the leaves. They are very territorial and will scare away other types. If they chirp, they sit in the bush crowns or protruding branches.

Subspecies

So far, four subspecies are known, which differ primarily by their color:

• Diglossa mystacalis mystacalis Lafresnaye, 1846 ( nominate ). Occurs in the departments of Cochabamba and La Paz.
• Diglossa mystacalis pectoralis Cabanis, 1873. One finds this subspecies from the district Panao in the province Pachitea in the region Huánuco Junín up after. Is most similar to D. m. unicincta. The chest strap is also in the upper part reddish brown, but white in the bottom half.
• Diglossa mystacalis albilinea Chapman, 1919. This subspecies is present in the Peruvian regions of Ayacucho, Cusco and Puno. Resembles the nominate very, but the beard Streif ocher or creamy white in the front area. Another difference is the gray shoulders.
• Diglossa mystacalis unicincta Hellmayr, 1905. This subspecies occurs in the Cordillera de Carpish in the department of Huanuco in central Peru before. The beard streak is white. In addition, the birds have a reddish brown breast band, belly and vent.