Glossy-backed Becard

About the Glossy-backed Becard

The glossy-backed becard (Pachyramphus surinamus) is a species of bird in the family Tityridae, the tityras, becards, and allies. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. The glossy-backed becard was originally described in 1766 as Muscicapa surinama, mistakenly placing it with the Old World flycatchers. It was eventually placed in its present genus Pachyramphus. That genus has variously been assigned to the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae and the cotinga family Cotingidae. Several early twenty-first century studies confirmed the placement of Pachyramphus in Tityridae and taxonomic systems made the reassignment.

The glossy-backed becard is monotypic. The glossy-backed becard is about 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long and weighs about 20 g (0.71 oz). Adult males are glossy black with a slight bluish sheen on most of their head and on their upperparts, wings, and tail. Their crown sometimes appears scaly and they have some white at the base of the scapulars that is seldom visible. Their throat and underparts are pure white. Adult females' crowns are blackish with wide chestnut-brown feather tips. They have... Wikipedia →