From Opus

Photo of subspecies nigrogenis by NJlarsen
Trinidad May 2004

Includes Masked Cardinal

Paroaria gularis

[edit] Identification

Glossy blue black above; entire head and upper throat scarlet; lores and large triangular patch on lower throat black extending onto chest; rest of underparts white (or entire head, throat, and central chest coming to a point on breast scarlet, broad band across sides of head black--nigrogenis).
Immature: scarlet on head replaced by buffy brown.

Photo of subspecies gularis by JorgePeru
Peru April 2009

[edit] Distribution

Trinidad, the Guianas, Venezuela, and Colombia to northern Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil. The subspecies nigrogenis is found in the northern part of the range in Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia.

[edit] Taxonomy

This entire genus likely needs revision^[1]. Currently, three subspecies are recognized^[2]: gularis, nigrogenis, and cervicalis. Among these, nigrogenis is likely to become a full species under the name of Masked Cardinal; Yellow-billed Cardinal on the other hand might become included under Red-capped Cardinal.

[edit] Habitat

Swamps, mangroves and open areas near water.

[edit] Behaviour

Its diet includes insects, rice and fruit.

Breeding takes place from June to September. The nest is a shallow cup, about 9-10 cm wide and 7 cm high and is built in a tree. It is built of thin twigs, and ferns. 2-3 eggs are laid.

Voice: Song a clear, sweet suweet-ch, repeated at short intervals; call a soft chup.

[edit] References

1. Birdforum Taxonomy thread read in June 2009
2. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

[edit] External Links