White-rumped Monjita

About the White-rumped Monjita

The white-rumped monjita (Xolmis velatus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and as a vagrant to Argentina. The white-rumped monjita was formally described in 1823 as Muscicapa velata, a member of the Old World flycatcher family. It was eventually transferred to genus Xolmis that had been erected in 1826. Because Xolmis is masculine, it was necessary to change the ending of the specific epithet to velatus.

According to the IOC, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC), and the Clements taxonomy, the white-rumped monjita shares genus Xolmis with only the white monjita (X. irupero). However, as of December 2024 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World includes six other species in addition to the white-rumped and white monjitas. All agree that the white-rumped monjita is monotypic.

The white-rumped monjita is 19 to 20 cm (7.5 to 7.9 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly white head with a pearly gray nape. Their upperparts are mostly brownish gray with a white rump. The... Wikipedia →