Pachyramphus versicolor
The Barred Becard (Pachyramphus versicolor) is a striking passerine bird of the Tityridae family, known for its pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are instantly recognizable by their intricate black and white barring across the back, wings, and underside, contrasted by a black cap and a faint white supercilium. Measuring typically 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 12-18 grams, their robust bill, typical of becards, is another distinguishing feature. Females present a mo...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, ranging from foothills to high elevations, typically between 800 and 2,500 meters (2,600-8,200 feet) above sea level, occasionally lower or higher depending on the region.
Their diet consists mainly of arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, and orthopterans, which they glean from foliage; they also consume small fruits and berries.
Barred Becards are diurnal and generally solitary or found in pairs, though they frequently join mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly outside the breeding season. They are active insectivores, employing a 'sally-glean' foraging strategy where they perch quietly and then dart out to snatch ...
The Barred Becard exhibits a wide and somewhat fragmented distribution throughout Central and South America, extending from southeastern Mexico through Central America, and south along the Andes to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, as well as isolated populations in southeastern Brazil. In Mexi...
Least Concern
- The Barred Becard's family, Tityridae, was historically a taxonomic enigma, with its members moved between Cotingidae and Tyrannidae before being recognized as a distinct family. - They construct an astonishingly intricate, globe-shaped nest suspended from slender branches, often incorporating ...