Pachyramphus
Encyclopedia
Pachyramphus is a genus of bird
in the Tityridae
family which includes the species commonly known as the becards. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae
, where now placed by SACC. Depending on taxonomy
, the genus contains 16 or 17 species. The becards are characterized by their large heads with slight crest. The smaller members of this genus have graduated tails and most members are sexually dimorphic, although the Cinnamon Becard
and the Chestnut-crowned Becard
have similar plumage
s for the males and females. Juvenile becards resemble the adult females in plumage and, as far as known, obtain their adult plumage after about a year. The bills of the becards are grey, and many (but not all) have a black culmen or upper mandible. Their legs are dark gray. They are primarily found in Central
and South America
, but the Rose-throated Becard
occurs as far north as southern USA and, as suggested by its common name
, the Jamaican Becard
is restricted to Jamaica
. Depending on the species, they are found in wooded habitats ranging from open woodland to the dense canopy
of rainforest
s. The nest of a becard is a bulky globular mass of dead leaves, mosses, and fibers with the entrance near the bottom of the nest. Nests are typically wedged or slung from the outer branches of trees at the mid or upper levels.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Tityridae
Tityridae
Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The approximately 30 species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae and Cotingidae . As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although Tityras...
family which includes the species commonly known as the becards. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae
Tityridae
Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The approximately 30 species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae and Cotingidae . As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although Tityras...
, where now placed by SACC. Depending on taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, the genus contains 16 or 17 species. The becards are characterized by their large heads with slight crest. The smaller members of this genus have graduated tails and most members are sexually dimorphic, although the Cinnamon Becard
Cinnamon Becard
The Cinnamon Becard, Pachyramphus cinnamomeus, is a passerine bird which is a resident breeding species from southeastern Mexico south to northwestern Ecuador and northwestern Venezuela. It was recently found to be far more common on the Amazonian slope of the Colombian Cordillera Oriental than...
and the Chestnut-crowned Becard
Chestnut-crowned Becard
The Chestnut-crowned Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
have similar plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
s for the males and females. Juvenile becards resemble the adult females in plumage and, as far as known, obtain their adult plumage after about a year. The bills of the becards are grey, and many (but not all) have a black culmen or upper mandible. Their legs are dark gray. They are primarily found in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, but the Rose-throated Becard
Rose-throated Becard
The Rose-throated Becard is a medium-sized member of the Tityridae family. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae....
occurs as far north as southern USA and, as suggested by its common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
, the Jamaican Becard
Jamaican Becard
The Jamaican Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae....
is restricted to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. Depending on the species, they are found in wooded habitats ranging from open woodland to the dense canopy
Canopy (forest)
In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns.For forests, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms .Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent...
of rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s. The nest of a becard is a bulky globular mass of dead leaves, mosses, and fibers with the entrance near the bottom of the nest. Nests are typically wedged or slung from the outer branches of trees at the mid or upper levels.
Species
- Green-backed BecardGreen-backed BecardThe Green-backed Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC...
, Pachyramphus viridis - Yellow-cheeked BecardYellow-cheeked BecardThe Yellow-cheeked Becard, Pachyramphus xanthogenys, is a species of passerine bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC...
, Pachyramphus xanthogenys - often included in P. viridis - Barred BecardBarred BecardThe Barred Becard, Pachyramphus versicolor, is a small passerine bird which is a resident breeding species in highlands from Costa Rica to northwestern Ecuador and northern Bolivia...
, Pachyramphus versicolor - Slaty BecardSlaty BecardThe Slaty Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Pachyramphus spodiurus - Cinereous BecardCinereous BecardThe Cinereous Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. The term cinereous describes its colouration...
, Pachyramphus rufus - Cinnamon BecardCinnamon BecardThe Cinnamon Becard, Pachyramphus cinnamomeus, is a passerine bird which is a resident breeding species from southeastern Mexico south to northwestern Ecuador and northwestern Venezuela. It was recently found to be far more common on the Amazonian slope of the Colombian Cordillera Oriental than...
, Pachyramphus cinnamomeus - Chestnut-crowned BecardChestnut-crowned BecardThe Chestnut-crowned Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Pachyramphus castaneus - White-winged BecardWhite-winged BecardThe White-winged Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae. where now placed by SACC...
, Pachyramphus polychopterus - Black-and-white BecardBlack-and-white BecardThe Black-and-white Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua,...
, Pachyramphus albogriseus - Grey-collared BecardGrey-collared BecardThe Grey-collared Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggests it is better placed in Tityridae....
, Pachyramphus major - Black-capped BecardBlack-capped BecardThe Black-capped Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Pachyramphus marginatus - Glossy-backed BecardGlossy-backed BecardThe Glossy-backed Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggests that it is better placed in Tityridae, where it is now placed by SACC.It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname.Its natural...
, Pachyramphus surinamus - Rose-throated BecardRose-throated BecardThe Rose-throated Becard is a medium-sized member of the Tityridae family. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae....
, Pachyramphus aglaiae - Jamaican BecardJamaican BecardThe Jamaican Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae....
, Pachyramphus niger - One-coloured BecardOne-coloured BecardThe One-colored Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Pachyramphus homochrous - Pink-throated BecardPink-throated BecardThe Pink-throated Becard is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC....
, Pachyramphus minor - Crested BecardCrested BecardThe Crested Becard , also known as the Plain Becard, is a species of bird in the Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC.-Distribution and habitat:It is found in...
, Pachyramphus validus