Spectacled whitestart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spectacled whitestart |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myioborus
|
| Species: |
melanocephalus
|
 |
|
| Range of M. melanocephalus | |
The spectacled whitestart (also called the spectacled redstart) is a small bird. Its scientific name is Myioborus melanocephalus. This bird belongs to the Parulidae family, which includes many types of New World warblers. You can find it in the humid Andean forests and woodlands. These areas stretch from southern Colombia all the way to Bolivia.
Contents
Meet the Spectacled Whitestart
What is a Spectacled Whitestart?
The spectacled whitestart is a type of bird. It was first described in 1844. Scientists gave it the name Setophaga melanocephala back then. The first bird studied was found in a place called Maraynioc, in Peru.
This bird is part of a group of closely related birds. This group includes the yellow-fronted whitestart, the white-fronted whitestart, and the golden-fronted whitestart. Scientists have sometimes debated if these four birds are truly different species. For example, the spectacled whitestart and the yellow-fronted whitestart were once thought to be the same species. In parts of the southern Colombian Andes, where they meet, you can even see birds that look like a mix of both!
Different Types of Spectacled Whitestarts
Within the spectacled whitestart species, there are five recognized subspecies. Think of subspecies as slightly different versions of the same bird. They might have small differences in size or color.
- M. m. ruficoronatus: Found in the Andes from southwestern Colombia to southern Ecuador.
- M. m. griseonuchus: Lives in the western Andes of northwestern Peru.
- M. m. malaris: Found in the central Andes of northern Peru.
- M. m. melanocephalus: This is the main type, found in the eastern Andes of central Peru.
- M. m. bolivianus: Lives in the Andes of southern Peru and western Bolivia.
What Does a Spectacled Whitestart Look Like?
Size and Main Colors
The spectacled whitestart is a small bird. It usually weighs between 10 and 13 grams. That's about as much as two quarters! It is also about 13 to 13.5 centimeters (about 5 inches) long.
This bird has a striking look. Its face and the top of its head (called the crown) are black. The back of its neck and its back are grey. Its tail is mostly black, but the feathers on the very edges have some white. The underside of the bird, from its throat all the way to its tail, is bright yellow. The feathers under its tail are white. Its beak and legs are black, and its eyes are dark.
Special Features: The "Spectacles"
One of the most interesting features of this bird is its "spectacles." These are bright yellow rings around its eyes. There is also a yellow stripe that runs under its eyes. These yellow markings look like a pair of glasses, which is how the bird got its name!
How Subspecies Differ
While all spectacled whitestarts look similar, the different subspecies have small variations:
- The M. m. bolivianus subspecies is a bit smaller than the main type. Its yellow underside is also a lighter shade.
- The M. m. malaris subspecies has more black on its face.
- The M. m. griseonuchus also has more black on its face, similar to M. m. malaris. But it also has a tiny patch of reddish-brown feathers on its crown.
- The M. m. ruficoronatus has a larger reddish-brown patch on its crown. Otherwise, it looks very similar to the main M. m. melanocephalus type.
Males, Females, and Young Birds
It's very hard to tell the difference between male and female spectacled whitestarts. They look almost exactly alike! Young birds, called juveniles, look a little different. Their heads and backs are grey, and their undersides are a paler yellow than the adults.
Images for kids
-
A spectacled whitestart showing its yellow "spectacles."
-
Map showing where the spectacled whitestart lives.
