Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The Rufous-browed Peppershrike is variable. All forms have olive upperparts and tail. The head can be all gray or gray and yellow. The extent of the rufous eyebrow can vary from an entire rufous cap to a rufous eyebrow. The underparts can be all yellow or yellow on the throat and breast grading to gray on the rest of the underparts. It forages in a variety of habitats including the canopy of Amazonian forest and forest edges, deciduous forests, and also in scrub habitats. It superficially resembles a Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo but is distinguished by an always rufous eyebrow and red eye.

Status: The Rufous-browed Peppershrike is fairly common on most of the east slope of the Andes, the humid west slope, the Marañon Drainage, humid and semi-deciduous forests in Tumbes within a broad altitudinal range of 500 to 3000 m. It is also local in Amazonia. The Rufous-browed Peppershrike also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Vireón de Ceja Rufa.

Sub-species: Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis gujanensis) (J. F. Gmelin), 1789.  E Colombia, S Venezuela, the Guianas, E Peru, NE Bolivia (La Paz), and Brazil S to N Mato Grosso.
(Cyclarhis gujanensis virenticeps), P. L. Sclater, 1860.  W Ecuador and NW Peru.
(Cyclarhis gujanensis contrerasi), Taczanowski, 1879.  SE Ecuador and N Peru (S to San Martín).
(Cyclarhis gujanensis saturata), J. T. Zimmer, 1925.  C Peru (R Marañón S to Huánuco).

Meaning of Name: Cyclarhis: Gr. kuklos= circle and rhis, rhinos= nostrils. gujanensis: In reference to or coming from Guianas.

See more of the Family Vireonidae