Pachyramphus albogriseus
The Black-and-white Becard (Pachyramphus albogriseus) is a striking passerine bird of the Tityridae family, renowned for its pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are instantly recognizable with a glossy black cap extending to the eye, contrasting sharply with a grey nape and back, and pristine white underparts, sometimes with a faint grey wash. Their wings are black with prominent white edgings, giving them a smart, tailored appearance. Females, in stark contrast, sport a rufous-brown cap, an ...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges, typically found at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,500 meters. It favors the mid-story and canopy of tall, humid broadleaf forests.
The Black-and-white Becard feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods, which it gleans from foliage and captures with short aerial sallies. It also supplements its diet with small fruits.
Black-and-white Becards are diurnal and often observed moving deliberately through the mid-story to canopy of their forest homes, sometimes giving a "mouse-like" impression. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects and other arthropods from foliage and branches, often making sh...
The Black-and-white Becard boasts a wide yet fragmented distribution across the Neotropics, primarily along the mountain ranges of Central and South America. In Central America, its range extends from Honduras and Nicaragua south through Costa Rica and Panama. Moving into South America, it is fou...
Least Concern
- The male Black-and-white Becard's striking black-and-white plumage contrasts dramatically with the female's more subdued olive-grey and yellow, making it one of the most sexually dimorphic becards. - Its scientific genus name, *Pachyramphus*, translates to "thick beak," referring to the species...