Pachysylvia muscicapina
The Buff-cheeked Greenlet (*Pachysylvia muscicapina*) is a small, unobtrusive songbird of the Vireonidae family, often distinguished by its subtle yet diagnostic plumage. Measuring about 11.5–12.5 cm in length and weighing 9.5–13 grams, it features olive-green upperparts, a dull grayish crown that contrasts subtly with its back, and whitish underparts. Its most distinctive field mark is the buffy wash on its cheeks (auriculars) and lores, often highlighted by a faint white supercilium and a p...
This greenlet primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of humid lowland rainforests, including várzea and gallery forests, as well as secondary growth and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1200 meters.
The Buff-cheeked Greenlet feeds predominantly on arthropods, including caterpillars, spiders, and beetles, which it gleans from foliage; small berries are also occasionally consumed.
Active during daylight hours, the Buff-cheeked Greenlet is a deliberate forager, often moving slowly through the foliage. It frequently joins mixed-species flocks, particularly outside the breeding season, gleaning insects and spiders from the undersides of leaves and twigs in the subcanopy. Duri...
The Buff-cheeked Greenlet boasts an extensive distribution across South America, primarily within the Amazon basin and contiguous forest systems. Its range encompasses Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern and western Bolivia, ...
Least Concern
- Its former genus, *Hylophilus*, translates to 'forest-loving', a fitting description for its preferred habitat. - Despite its often drab appearance, the distinctive buffy wash on its cheeks is a crucial field mark for identification. - This species is more often detected by its melodious, whist...