Summary
The collared whitestart (Myioborus torquatus), also known as the collared redstart, is a tropical New World warbler endemic to the mountains of Costa Rica and western-central Panama.[2]
| Collared whitestart | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Costa Rica | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Parulidae |
| Genus: | Myioborus |
| Species: | M. torquatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Myioborus torquatus (Baird, 1865)
| |
| |
Description edit
The collared whitestart is around 13 centimetres (5 in) in length with a weight of 10.5 grams (0.4 oz). It has a chestnut crown bordered with black, and a black forehead. The rest of the upper parts are slaty black, and the tail is black with white edges, hence the bird's name: "start" is an old English word for "tail". The face and underparts are bright yellow, with a black band across the breast.[2]
The sexes are similar[3], but young birds are duller, with a browner back, weakly yellow underparts, and the head entirely slate-coloured, with no yellow on the face or red on the crown.[4]
Behaviour edit
The call is a sharp pit[5], and the song is a mixture of slurred whistles, warbles and trills.[6]
The collared whitestart feeds on insects[4], frequently fanning its striking tail as it pursues its prey.[7] It will join mixed feeding flocks, and will follow cattle and occasionally humans for the insects they flush.[8]
The roofed nest has a round side entrance and is built on the ground or a steep bank, hidden amongst rocks, tufts of grass or under a fallen log. It is constructed from strips of bark, plant fibres, leaves, and grass. From March to May, the female will lay 2 or 3 white or cream eggs that are speckled with fine brown spots. Incubation lasts about two weeks, but other nesting details are largely unknown.[8]
Habitat edit
The collared whitestart is common at heights between 1500 m and the timberline in mossy mountain forests, ravines, second growth, and adjacent pastures.[2]
References edit
- ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Myioborus torquatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22721934A137114670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22721934A137114670.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Jon Curson (2010). New World Warblers. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 200–201. ISBN 9781408135167.
- ^ "Collared Redstart - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ a b "Collared Redstart - BirdForum Opus". BirdForum. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ XC31706 Collared Whitestart (Myioborus torquatus), retrieved 2024-04-22
- ^ XC31709 Collared Whitestart (Myioborus torquatus), retrieved 2024-04-22
- ^ Hilbie, Connor; Block, Nicholas L. (2020). "Collared Redstart (Myioborus torquatus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.colred1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ a b Ramel, Gordon (2023-07-12). "Collared Redstarts (Myioborus torquatus) Information". Earth Life. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
Further reading edit
- Skutch, Alexander F. (1954). "Collared redstart" (PDF). Life Histories of Central American Birds. Pacific Coast Avifauna, Number 31. Berkeley, California: Cooper Ornithological Society. pp. 371–376.
External links edit
Media related to Myioborus torquatus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Myioborus torquatus at Wikispecies
