Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus)

Identification & Behavior: ~21 cm (8 in). The Masked Saltator is mostly blue-gray with a black mask. The throat and center of the underparts are white with a black band across the breast. The bill in adult birds is coral red. The juveniles has a brown bill that gradually turns red as the bird reaches the adult age. The iris is red-brown. The tail is realtively long, gray with bold white tips. It forages in humid montane forests where it is often associated with bamboo thickets. It is similar to the Black-cowled Saltator but is distinguished by having white throat and rest of the underparts, and by ranging at higher elevations. Also, see Golden-billed Saltator.

Status: The Masked Saltator is rare and poorly known in humid montane forests on the east and west slopes of the northern Andes at elevations ranging between 1700-3000 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Saltador Enmascarado.

Sub-species: Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus), J. T. Zimmer, 1943.

Meaning of Name: Saltator: L. saltator, saltatoris dancer, saltare= to dance. cinctus: L. cinctus girdled, wreathed, banded.

See more of the Family Thraupidae