Spectacled Redstart (Myioborus melanocephalus)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.3 in). The Spectacled Redstart has a blackish head and blue-gray rest of the upperparts. The throat and rest of the underparts are bright yellow. It has distinctive yellow lores and bold yellow eyerings. The tail is gray with white outer tail feathers. It forages in the canopy and sub-canopy of humid montane forest often with mixed species flocks. It is similar to the closely related Slate-throated Redstart but is distinguished by having a yellow throat and bold yellow lores and eyerings.

Status: The Spectacled Redstart is common in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1800 – 3450 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Candelita de Anteojos..

Sub-species: Spectacled Redstart (Myioborus melanocephalus griseonuchus), Chapman, 1927. W Andes in NW Peru.
(M. m. malaris), J. T. Zimmer, 1949. C Andes in N Peru.
(M. m. melanocephalus), (Tschudi), 1844. E Andes in C Peru.
(M. m. bolivianus), Chapman, 1919. Andes in S Peru and W Bolivia.

Meaning of Name: Myioborus: Gr. Muia= fly and boros= devouring. melanocephalus: Gr. melas, melanos= black kephalos, kephale= head, headed.

See more of the Family Parulidae