The white-throated tyrannulet (Mecocerculus leucophrys) is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Taxonomy and systematics
The International Ornithological Committee and the Clements taxonomy recognize these 11 subspecies of the white-throated tyrannulet:
M. l. montensis (Bangs, 1899)
M. l. chapmani Dickerman, 1985
M. l. nigriceps Chapman, 1899
M. l. notatus Todd, 1919
M. l. setophagoides (Bonaparte, 1845)
M. l. parui Phelps, WH & Phelps, WH Jr, 1950
M. l. rufomarginatus (Lawrence, 1869)
M. l. roraimae Hellmayr, 1921
M. l. brunneomarginatus Chapman, 1924
M. l. pallidior Carriker, 1933
M. l. leucophrys (D'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World does not recognize M. l. montensis but includes it within M. l. nigriceps.
Some subspecies differ significantly in their morphology, suggesting that they might be separate species. M. l. pallidior has specifically been proposed as a species but not enough data are available for all of the taxa to make decisions.
This article follows the 11-subspecies model.
Description
The white-throated tyrannulet is 11 to 14 cm (4.3 to 5.5 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. l. leucophrys have a dark olive-gray crown and nape. They have white lores and a thin white supercilium on an otherwise dusky face with some white on the ear coverts. Their upperparts are medium olive-gray. Their wings are brownish black with cinnamon-buff to yellowish buff edges and tips on the flight feathers. Their wing coverts have cinnamon-buff tips that show as two wide bars on the closed wing. Their tail is dusky brown. Their throat is white which extends past the ear coverts; the feathers are puffy. They have a vest-like band of gray on their breast; the rest of their underparts are medium yellow. Both sexes of all subspecies...
