White-winged Becard (Pachyramphus polychopterus)

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The male White-winged Becard is black with bold white wing bars and large white tail tips. The male Austral migrant (spexii) has a similar wing and tail patterns but have dusky gray underparts. The female has a brown cap and mantle. The wings and tails are dusky with brown wing bars and tail tips. The underparts are yellow. The female is similar to the female Black-capped Becard but is distinguished by the rufous mantle, yellow underparts, and bold rufous wing bars.

Status: The White-winged Becard is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1500 m along the foothill of the Andes. Austral migrants are expected in Southeastern Peru during the months of March through October. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Cabezón de Ala Blanca.

Sub-species: White-winged Becard (Pachyramphus polychopterus tenebrosus), J. T. Zimmer, 1936.   SE Colombia (SE Nariño and W Caquetá E to Amazonas), E Ecuador and NE Peru (N & W Loreto and San Martín).
(Pachyramphus polychopterus nigriventris), P. L. Sclater, 1857.  E Colombia (E of Andes in W Meta S to Vaupés), W Brazil (both banks of upper Amazon E to R Jamundá and E bank of R Madeira), E Peru (S of R Marañón) and N Bolivia (Beni). (Pachyramphus polychopterus spixii), (Swainson, 1838). NW Bolivia (Pando and La Paz E to Santa Cruz and S to Tarija), SE Peru (Madre de Dios), S & SE Brazil (Mato Grosso E to Espírito Santo, S to Rio Grande do Sul).

Meaning of Name: Pachyramphus: Gr. pakhus= stout, thick and rhamphos= bill. polychopterus: Gr. polus= much and khroa, khroas= appearance, and pteros, pteron= wing, winged.

See more of the Family Tityridae