White Monjita

About the White Monjita

The white monjita (Xolmis irupero) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The white monjita was formally described in 1823 as Tyrannus irupero. It was eventually transferred to genus Xolmis that had been erected in 1826.

According to the IOC, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC), and the Clements taxonomy, the white monjita shares genus Xolmis with only the white-rumped monjita (X. velatus). However, as of December 2024 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World includes six other species in addition to the white and white-rumped monjitas. All agree that the white monjita has two subspecies, the nominate X. i. irupero (Vieillot, 1823) and X. i. niveus (Spix, 1825).

The white monjita is 17 to 18 cm (6.7 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 21 to 29.5 g (0.74 to 1.0 oz). Adult males of the nominate subspecies are almost entirely white. They have black primaries, primary coverts, and tail tip. Females are almost identical but have a gray tinge on their back. Subspecies X. i. niveus... Wikipedia →