Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Thraupidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Paroaria | |
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Similar Nightingale Island finch, Vilcabamba brush finch, Short‑tailed finch, Dusky‑headed brush finch, Black‑headed brush finch | ||
Masked cardinal with sponged background card
The masked cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It was formerly placed in the Emberizidae and is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).
It is found in Trinidad, far north-eastern Colombia and northern Venezuela. It was previously considered conspecific with the red-capped cardinal, from which it differs by the black ear-coverts and the red (not black) lower throat and upper chest. Additionally, its lower mandible is typically whitish, but this is not entirely consistent, as it occasionally is pale flesh-coloured. This distinctive taxon as a distinct species, as suggested by the lack of hybridization with P. g. gularis in the limited area of overlap in southern Venezuela. The common name masked cardinal was suggested.
