Slate-throated whitestart

{{Speciesbox

|image = Slate-throated whitestart (Myioborus miniatus aurantiacus).jpg

|image_caption = Myioborus miniatus aurantiacus, Panama

|image2 = Slate-throated whitestart (Myioborus miniatus ballux) San Isidro.jpg|

|image2_caption = Myioborus miniatus ballux, Ecuador

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=Myioborus miniatus |volume=2020 |page=e.T22721898A138775194 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22721898A138775194.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

|genus = Myioborus

|species = miniatus

|authority = (Swainson, 1827)

|synonyms =

|range_map = Myioborus miniatus map.svg

|range_map_caption = Range of M. miniatus

}}

The slate-throated whitestart, slate-throated redstart, or slaty-throated whitestart (Myioborus miniatus) is a species of bird in the family Parulidae native to Central and South America.{{Cite web |title=Myioborus miniatus (Slate-throated Redstart) - Avibase |url=https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=CB8A94374DC4F1A7 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=avibase.bsc-eoc.org}}

Description

The slate-throated whitestart is a long-tailed warbler measuring {{cvt|12|cm|in}} long. It has a deep rufous head, dark back, and contrasting bright yellow breast, belly and white vent and tail tips. The bill is black, and the legs are blackish-gray.

While most of its plumage changes little throughout its large range, the underparts grade from yellow in most of its range, to red in the northernmost part.

Distribution and habitat

It is found disjunctly in humid highland forests, from upper understory to mid canopy, in Mexico, Central America, the Andes from western Venezuela to northwestern Argentina, the Venezuelan Coastal Range, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the tepuis. It occurs at around {{cvt|600|to|2500|m}} above sea level.

In July 2024, a specimen was spotted in the Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove of San Francisco, California. The sighting was confirmed by multiple birdwatching enthusiasts. This is the furthest north the species has ever been observed.{{cite web|title=ML622027169 - Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus|url=https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/622027169|website=Macaulay Library}}

Behavior

Pairs remain together throughout year, often accompanying mixed flocks. It hops and flits about while flashing its tail to frighten insects which are then caught in aerial pursuits. It will occasionally take protein corpuscles from Cecropia plants and will occasionally glean insects from tree bark.

The slate-throated whitestart's call note is a sharp "pik" note. The song varies with region, although throughout most of range it is a varied series of whistled notes, some slurred up, some slurred down.

From April to May, pairs nest in a bulky, roofed structure with a side entrance, usually nestled in niche in bank or steep slope. The female lays 3, or sometimes 2, speckled white eggs.

Gallery

Slate-throated whitestart (Myioborus miniatus aurantiacus) juvenile.jpg|Juvenile M. m. aurantiacus

Myioborus_miniatus.jpg|A red-bellied individual from the northern part of the range

Slate-throated Whitestart.jpg|Adult near Tarcoles, Costa Rica, 18 March 2024

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last1=Angehr |first1=George R. |last2=Dean |first2=Robert |date=2010 |title=The Birds of Panama |location=Ithaca |publisher=Zona Tropical/Comstock/Cornell University Press |page=304 |isbn=978-0-8014-7674-7 }}

{{InternetBirdCollection|slate-throated-whitestart-myioborus-miniatus|Slate-throated whitestart}}

}}