The spectacled whitestart or spectacled redstart (Myioborus melanocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Parulidae, the New World warblers. It is found from Colombia to Bolivia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The spectacled whitestart was formally described in 1844 with the binomial Setophaga melanocephala, from a type specimen collected in Maraynioc, Peru. It forms a monophyletic clade with the golden-fronted whitestart (M. ornatus) and white-fronted whitestart (M. albifrons). Some authors have suggested that the spectacled and golden-fronted whitestarts should be treated as conspecific. The ranges of the northernmost spectacled and southernmost golden-fronted overlap and intermediate types and hybrids have been recorded. They are sister species.
As of July 2026, taxonomists recognize these five subspecies of the spectacled whitestart:
M. m. ruficoronatus (Kaup, 1852)
M. m. griseonuchus (Chapman, 1927
M. m. malaris Zimmer, JT, 1949
M. m. melanocephalus (Tschudi, 1844)
M. m. bolivianus Chapman, 1919
A 2023 paper presented evidence that the type specimen of M. m. ruficoronatus is a hybrid and, by the principle of priority, the subspecies should be renamed M. m. bairdi (Salvin, 1878). It also made other suggestions for revising the taxonomy of both the spectacled and golden-fronted whitestarts. None of the suggestions have been implemented as of July 2026.
Description
M. m. melanocephalus
The spectacled whitestart is 13 to 13.5 cm (5.1 to 5.3 in) long and weighs about 10 to 13 g (0.35 to 0.46 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. m. melanocephalus have a bright yellow supraloral stipe and eye-ring that form the eponymous spectacles; the rest of their face is black. Their nape, upperparts, and wings are gray. Their tail is black with white outer two pairs of feathers. Their throat and underparts are mostly yellow and their undertail coverts white. Juveniles have an olive-gray head and upperparts. Their throat and breast are...
