Brown-capped Whitestart

Overview

The brown-capped whitestart, also known as the brown-capped redstart, is a small bird in the family Parulidae. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Length of about 13 cm and weighing between 8.5 and 11 g, with sexes sharing the same plumage.
• Adults possess a mostly grey head with a rufous crown, a whitish stripe above the lores, and white crescents above and below the eye.
• Upperparts and wings are mostly grey with an olive mantle, while the tail is black with much white on the outer feathers.
• Throat and most underparts are yellow with white undertail coverts; the bill and legs are blackish with a dark iris.
• The song is a fast, high-pitched, sibilant trill on one pitch, transcribed as 'see-see-see-see-see-see-see-see-seep'.

Habitat

This species inhabits the edges and clearings of forests and woodlands, as well as gardens, on the eastern slope of the Andes from central Bolivia into northern Argentina. It generally ranges between 1,400 and 3,200 m, though it can reach up to 3,800 m in Bolivia and as low as 400 m in Argentina during the non-breeding season.

Diet

The brown-capped whitestart feeds on adult and larval insects, spiders, and other arthropods. It forages primarily by gleaning from the forest understory to middle levels and occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Unlike most Myioborus whitestarts, it seldom flicks its white tail to startle prey.

Did you know?

The species makes elevational movements in Argentina, breeding at higher elevations and moving down to lower altitudes in plantations of non-native species during the non-breeding season.