Rose-throated Becard Identification

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Rose-throated Becard Photos and Videos

Male

A small, stocky songbird that often shows a bushy crest. Adult male in drier areas is pale gray below and darker gray above, with a black cap and deep pink throat patch.

Female

Female upperparts range from grayish to rufous, and cap color can be black, blackish-gray, or rusty brown. Note also large head; short neck; short, narrow tail; and stout, slightly hooked bill.

Immature male

A small, stocky songbird with a short, thick bill, and a bushy-headed look when crest is raised. This immature male looks similar to an adult male, with light gray underparts, darker gray upperparts and head, and a pink throat patch, but it also shows some rusty coloration typical of a female.

Immature male

Immature male shows a mix of female and adult male coloration.

Male

Adult males in humid areas are darker overall, with little or no pink on the throat.

Nest

This species builds a large, messy domed nest out of dead leaves, dry grasses, stems, and pieces of bark.

Male

When foraging, sits upright on a perch for long periods, moving its head slowly in search of insects.

Female

Typically occurs singly or in pairs. Often inconspicuous as it perches within the foliage of tree crowns.

Female

Feeds on fruits, seeds, and insects.

Male

Adult male in humid regions is blackish-gray above, with a slightly darker black cap. Note short, stout bill.

Immature male

Note large head; short neck; capped appearance; short, narrow tail; and stout, slightly hooked bill to help identify this highly variable species.

See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

Compare with Similar Species

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Gray-collared BecardMale

Gray-collared BecardFemale

Cinnamon Becard

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Identification

Rather chunky, big-headed bird with a bushy crest. Male varies from pale gray (in drier areas) to dark slaty gray (in rainforest); pink throat patch absent in darkest rainforest birds. Female also variable, but always has bushy blackish cap. Young male looks like female with variable pink on throat. Widespread in tropical and subtropical areas in Middle America, also locally in the highlands. Favors woodland and forest edge, but also found in brushy fields, hedgerows, and most habitats with a scattering of larger trees; often at fruiting trees. Feeds rather sluggishly, often craning its head back and forth deliberately.

Relative Size

About the same size as an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Size chart showing sparrow to goose sized

between sparrow and robin

Measurements

Both Sexes
- Length: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)
- Weight: 1.1 oz (31 g)

Regional Differences

Rose-throated Becards vary across their range, with the palest populations in the driest areas and the darkest birds in the most humid regions. Paler males have a rose throat patch that sometimes extends onto the upper breast, while darker males have little or no pink on the throat. Female upperparts range from grayish to rufous, and female cap color can be black, blackish-gray, or rusty brown.