Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Rose-throated Becard -- Pachyramphus aglaiae


RANGE: Breeds in southeastern Arizona and in southern Texas (Cameron and Hidalgo Counties) and in Mexico and Central America. Winters in Mexico and Central America.

STATUS: Rare and local.

HABITAT: Inhabits mature groves of trees situated near flowing water, preferably stands of sycamore, cottonwood, and willow.

NEST: Builds an immense bushel-basket nest of strips of fibrous plant stems, suspending it from twigs at the end of a drooping branch 30 to 60 feet above the ground. Often places nests in sycamores but also uses cottonwoods, baldcypress, and willows. Will often build in the same site as the previous year's nest, or very close to the site.

FOOD: Perches on interior branches rather than exposed perches while feeding. Eats insects and some wild fruit.

REFERENCES: Oberholser 1974b, Phillips 1949, Phillips et al. 1964, Terres 1980, Terrill in Farrand 1983b.


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