Yellow-shouldered grosbeak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-shouldered grosbeak |
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| In Yasuni National Park, | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Parkerthraustes
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| Species: |
humeralis
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The yellow-shouldered grosbeak (Parkerthraustes humeralis) is a colorful bird. It belongs to the tanager family. This bird is special because it's the only species in its genus called Parkerthraustes.
You can find this bird in several South American countries. These include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It loves to live in warm, wet forests in lowland areas.
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About the Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak
The yellow-shouldered grosbeak gets its name from the bright yellow patches on its shoulders. These patches stand out against its mostly dark body. It has a strong, thick beak, which is typical for birds called "grosbeaks." This type of beak helps it crack open seeds and fruits.
This bird lives in subtropical and tropical areas. It prefers moist lowland forests. This means it lives in forests that are not too high up in the mountains and get a lot of rain.
Naming and Classification
Birds are given scientific names to help scientists around the world identify them. The yellow-shouldered grosbeak was first officially described in 1867. An American bird expert named George Newbold Lawrence gave it its first scientific name.
Why the Name Changed
Over time, scientists learn more about animals. In 1997, a scientist named James Van Remsen Jr. studied this bird. He used molecular genetics, which is like looking at the bird's DNA. This helped him understand how it was related to other birds.
Based on this new information, the yellow-shouldered grosbeak was moved to its own new genus called Parkerthraustes. This new genus name was chosen to honor another bird expert, Theodore A. Parker III, who had passed away. The second part of its scientific name, humeralis, comes from a Latin word meaning "of the shoulders." This makes sense because of its yellow shoulder patches!
Family Tree Changes
For a long time, people thought the yellow-shouldered grosbeak belonged to the cardinal family. But in 2007, another study using molecular phylogenetics (more DNA studies!) showed something different. It proved that this bird is actually part of the tanager family.
This bird is the only one of its kind in its genus. This means it is a monotypic species, with no different subspecies recognized.
