Pachyramphus aglaiae
The Rose-throated Becard, a truly distinctive member of the Tyrannidae family despite its un-flycatcher-like appearance, is a neotropical passerine admired for its striking sexual dimorphism and unique nesting habits. Males are exceptionally handsome, sporting a glossy black cap, a prominent rosy-pink throat and chest that bleeds into gray underparts, and a contrasting white nape patch, measuring 6.3-7.1 inches (16-18 cm) in length with a wingspan of 10.2-11.0 inches (26-28 cm). Females, whil...
Found primarily in riparian woodlands, deciduous and mixed-evergreen forests, and mature secondary growth, often favoring areas near water sources. They typically inhabit low to mid-elevations, from sea level up to around 2,500 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of large insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, supplemented significantly by small fruits and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season. They forage by gleaning from foliage and making aerial sallies.
Rose-throated Becards are diurnal, often solitary or found in pairs, becoming more vocal and conspicuous during the breeding season. Their foraging strategy, sometimes termed 'hawk-gleaning,' involves watching from a perch, then making quick sallies to snatch insects or glean fruit from foliage, ...
The Rose-throated Becard's extensive range spans from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America, south to northern Costa Rica. In the US, breeding populations are highly localized, found primarily in the 'Sky Islands' of southeastern Arizona and in the Lower Rio Grande Val...
Least Concern
- The Rose-throated Becard builds one of the most elaborate and distinctive nests among North American birds - a large, globular, pendulous structure, often suspended from a tree branch, sometimes over water. - Despite being part of the Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatcher) family, becards have a more r...