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Home/Species/ Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

(Lafresnaye, 1839)

Rose-throated Becard

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100681
Element CodeABPAE53070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTityridae
GenusPachyramphus
Synonyms
Platypsaris aglaiae
Other Common Names
Bécarde à gorge rose (FR) Mosquero-Cabezón Degollado (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Previously placed in the genus Platypsaris. Exact familial affinity unknown, but clearly in the superfamily Tyrannoidea; therefore, placed incertae sedis between Tyrannidae and Cotingidae (AOU 1997, 1998).
Conservation Status
Review Date1999-12-27
Change Date1996-12-02
Edition Date1999-12-27
Edition AuthorsDeeble, B.; revisions by M. Koenen and D.W. Mehlman
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: southeastern Arizona (uncommon and local), northeastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, northeastern Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and southern Texas (rare visitor along Rio Grande), south through Mexico to Costa Rica (primarily in northwest south to Gulf of Nicoya) (AOU 1998). NON-BREEDING: northern Mexico south through breeding range (AOU 1998).
Occurrences Comments
Extirpated as a breeding bird in the lower Rio Grande Valley coincident with the plant community changing from evergreen and riparian woodland to thorn-forest and thorn-scrub. The decline of large trees is attributed to long-term lack of flooding since dam construction on the Rio Grande and related death of large trees during severe droughts (Brush 1998, Brush and Cantu 1998). In at least one case, nesting habitat is threatened by road expansion through a riparian corridor (S. Russell, pers. comm.).
Threat Impact Comments
HABITAT: Degradation and loss of native riparian habitat through inappropriate grazing practices, urban development, and groundwater depletion effecting riparian function are cited as principle threats (AGFD 1996, BISON-M 1997). In at least one case, nesting habitat is threatened by road expansion through a riparian corridor (S. Russell, pers. comm.). Was extirpated as a breeding bird in the lower Rio Grande Valley coincident with the plant community changing from evergreen and riparian woodland to thorn-forest and thorn-scrub. The decline of large trees is attributed to long-term lack of flooding since dam construction on the Rio Grande River, and related death of large trees during severe droughts (Brush 1998, Brush and Cantu 1998). HUMAN DISTURBANCE: Disturbance by bird watchers (e.g., use of tape-playback during breeding season) also a threat in U.S. (AGFD 1996, BISON-M 1997).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

BREEDING: Gallery forest, tropical deciduous forest, tropical lowland evergreen forest edge (0-1250 meters, locally to 2700 meters); Tropical and Subtropical zones (AOU 1998, Brush and Cantu 1998). Open forest, woodland, scrubby areas, open areas with scattered trees, plantations and mangroves, mostly in semi-arid regions but also less commonly in humid areas (AOU 1983). Sometimes also in open understory of dense forest (Beebe, in Collins 1960).

In northern semi-arid areas utilizes riparian deciduous woodlands that occur where desert streams provide sufficient moisture for a narrow band of deciduous trees and shrubs along the margins (DeGraaf et al. 1991). Sutton (1949) also notes a dependence on the existence of open woodland with tall trees near water. Nests in trees 4-21 meters above ground, often over or near water (DeGraaf et al. 1991, Stiles and Skutch 1989). In Arizona, nests very locally in riparian habitats comprised of mature sycamore (PLATANUS spp.), cottonwood (POPULUS spp.), and willow (SALIX spp.; AGFD in press, DeGraaf et al. 1991). Nesting formerly recorded in closed-canopy subtropical evergreen forest of mature Texas ebony (PITHECELLOBIUM EBANO) and tepehuaje (LEUCAENA PULVERULENTA) in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas where trees averaged 16.1 meters in height (Brush and Cantu 1998).

NON-BREEDING: Winters from northern Mexico south throughout the remainder of the breeding range in similar habitat types (AOU 1998). In western Mexico prefers undisturbed tropical deciduous forest to second growth. In tropical deciduous forest of western Mexico, detected much more frequently in undisturbed stands (7.5 percent of counts), than in 5 meters high (undetected) or 2 meters high second growth (undetected; Hutto 1989). In Costa Rica, frequents canopy of deciduous woods and evergreen gallery forest, scrubby second growth (Stiles and Skutch 1989). In El Salvador, noted in trees, second growth, also in deep swamp and about edges of clearing, trails, and roads (Terres 1980).

Ecology

Singly or in pairs, roams about, often with other small birds (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Reproduction

Breeding season begins in early May. Clutch size is two to six. Incubation by female. Young are tended by both adults. Nest is a large globular or pear-shaped mass, partly pendulous, suspended from twigs at end of drooping branch, about 25-30 centimeters in diameter, 30-75 centimeters long. Entrance hole on side; entire structure built of long strips of fibrous plant stems, bark, grass, leaves, insect webbing, rootlets, sometimes lined with feathers. Female does most work, building may continue during incubation. Often builds nest in exact place where nest was built previous year, or very close to site (Harrison 1978, Terres 1980).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodWoodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralSavannaOld field
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1B
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS1Yes
ArizonaS1Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
References (44)
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  3. Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD). February, 1995. Status Designations Notebook. Heritage Data Management System (HDMS). Phoenix, Arizona.
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