From Opus

Photo by raulroa
Location: Bonelli Regional Park, San Dimas, CA, USA

Alternative name: Painted Whitestart

Myioborus pictus

[edit] Identification

12.5-15cm Black hood and upperparts, and bright red breast and belly. Wings are black with large, white patches. Tail is black with thick, white edges. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has black breast and belly.

[edit] Distribution

United States, Mexico and south to Nicaragua.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Pine or pine-oak woods, oak canyons, and pinyon- and juniper-covered high slopes.

[edit] Behaviour

Both sexes sing and during courtship a pair will often bond by singing together.

They build their nests on the ground, hidden amongst rocks, roots, or tufts of grass on steeply sloping ground. Their nests are large and shallow, constructed of strips of bark, plant fibres, leaves, and grass. The female will lay 3 or 4 white to cream-coloured eggs that are speckled with fine brown and reddish spots. Incubation lasts about 14 days.

The diet includes insects which are gleaned from leaves, tree trunks, and branches; also hovers while picking insects from foliage, and hawks over water.

[edit] External Links