Suelda Aureolada/White-ringed Flycatcher/Conopias albovittatus

Nombre en español: Suelda Aureolada

Nombre en inglés: White-ringed Flycatcher

Nombre científico: Conopias albovittatus

Familia: Tyrannidae

Canto: Julio Delgado

El bienteveo del Chocó, suelda aureolada o mosquero cabecianillado (Conopias albovittatus) es una especie de ave paseriforme de la familia Tyrannidae perteneciente al género Conopias. Se encuentra en Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras y Panamá.

Hábitat

Vive en el bosque húmedo, bordes del bosque y claros con árboles dispersos, hasta los 900 m de altitud.

Descripción

En promedio mide 16 cm de longitud y pesa 24 g. La coronilla es negra con una mancha amarilla dorada en el centro y superciliares blancos y angostos que atraviesan la frente y la nuca. Una línea negra gruesa desde el área loreal que le recorre los ojos y las mejillas hasta los lados del cuello. La garganta es blanca. Su dorso es pardo oliváceo y sus alas y cola son pardo negruzcas con el borde de las terciales blanco amarillento. El pecho y el vientre partes inferiores son de color amarillo brillante. El pico y las patas son negros.

Taxonomía

Durante mucho tiempo se discutió sobre si Conopias parvus y C. albovittatus son una misma especie. Hoy se les considera especies separadas, tanto por el la coloración diferente de la garganta, como por la muy clara diferenciación de sus cantos. Los estudios genéticos han confirmado la separación en dos especies y la pertenencia de ambas al género Conopias.

White-ringed flycatcher

The white-ringed flycatcher (Conopias albovittatus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae.

It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, and Panama.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.

The northwesternmost representative of the genus Conopias—four species of morphologically rather uniform flycatchers—the White-ringed Flycatcher is found from eastern Honduras south to northwest Ecuador. Primarily yellow below and olive-green above, with darker wings, the crown is very dark with a largely concealed yellow patch, contrasting with white supercilia that meet on the forehead and nape, thereby forming a diadem, blackish ear coverts, and a white throat. The White-ringed Flycatcher was occasionally considered to be conspecific with the Yellow-throated Flycatcher (Conopias parvus), but they differ in morphology (throat color) and voice, and these two species have occasionally been thought to form a separate genus, but this possibility too has been generally discounted. Like other Conopias, the White-ringed Flycatcher is an inhabitant of the canopy and borders of tall humid forest, and is usually found in pairs.

Habitat

Canopy and borders of humid forest; occasionally ventures out into clearings with tall trees next to mature forest, also in taller trees along waterways. Mostly below 1000 m, but regularly to 1350 m in Panama (Cerro Pirre, in Darién).

Movement

Details unknown; wanders to some degree, but probably resident in most areas.

Diet and Foraging

Insects and spiders; some berries also taken. Alone, in pairs, or in small groups of up to five individuals; occasionally accompanies mixed-species flocks. Generally perches at higher levels in canopy, often directly on top of crown foliage or on exposed twig, scanning leaves and branches below; sallies among foliage, flits actively about the vegetation.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Call very distinctive, commences with a long note, followed by rapid, rattling or whirring, repetitive trill, “tre-r-r-r-r, tre-r-r-r-r…”, “kree-ee-ee-eer”, or short, slightly nasal and descending “wheeerr” whistle followed by rattling “qua-tre-e-e-e-e-e”, “wheeereeeeee-e-e-e” or “wheeeurrrrr-rreek” that rises in pitch and may slow near end; also gives prolonged, relatively higher-pitched, petulant trill that slows and ends with several discrete notes. Frequent bill-snapping during flight reported.

Breeding

Mar–Jun in Costa Rica. Nest c. 10–15 m up in old woodpecker (Picidae) hole, natural tree hole or crevice, or niche in bromeliad cluster; no other details. Clutch 2 eggs; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least ConcernNot globally threatened. Uncommon to fairly common. Occurs in Río Negro Jaguar Reserve, in Costa Rica. In Ecuador, widespread in Esmeraldas, numerous NW of Alto Tombo, and common E of Muisne, at Bilsa, and at Playa de Oro; occurs in Cerro Blanco Forest Reserve. Probably tolerant of some forest degradation, as it is found in second growth and in trees in clearings. Field studies of this poorly known species needed.