Myioborus miniatus
The Slate-throated Whitestart, Myioborus miniatus, is a striking and active New World Warbler, instantly recognizable by its bold coloration and energetic demeanor. Measuring approximately 12.5-13.5 cm (4.9-5.3 in) in length and weighing around 8-12 g (0.28-0.42 oz), it sports a distinctive slate-gray throat and upper breast, contrasting sharply with a vibrant rufous-red belly and bright white undertail coverts. Its upperparts are largely blackish-slate, often with a white patch on the primar...
Found primarily in humid montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges, typically at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,000 meters (2,300-9,800 feet).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of small arthropods, which they capture through active gleaning and characteristic aerial hawking after startling prey with tail movements.
Slate-throated Whitestarts are highly active, diurnal birds, constantly on the move through the understory and mid-story of their forest habitats. Their foraging strategy is distinctive: they frequently fan and flick their black-and-white tail, often accompanied by short, erratic flights, to star...
The Slate-throated Whitestart boasts an extensive Neotropical distribution, residing from Mexico south through Central America and continuing into South America along the Andes. Its breeding and year-round range extends from the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental in Mexico, through Belize, Guat...
Least Concern
- The Slate-throated Whitestart is one of the most widespread and ecologically successful members of the Myioborus genus across its Neotropical range. - Its distinctive tail-fanning behavior is believed to flush out hidden insects, making them easier to catch - a unique adaptation among warblers....