Dusky-capped greenlet

Dusky-capped greenlet
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Vireonidae
Genus:	Pachysylvia
Species:	P. hypoxantha
Binomial name
Pachysylvia hypoxantha (Pelzeln, 1868)
Synonyms
See text

The dusky-capped greenlet (Pachysylvia hypoxantha) is a species of bird in the family Vireonidae, the vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers. ^[2] It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. ^[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The dusky-capped greenlet was originally described in 1868 as Hylophilus hypoxanthus. ^[4] For a time early in the twentieth century it was considered a subspecies of the golden-fronted greenlet (P. aurantiifrons) but beginning in the 1930s it attained its status as a full species. ^[5]

The dusky-capped greenlet has these six subspecies: ^[2]

• P. h. hypoxantha (Pelzeln, 1868)
• P. h. fuscicapillus (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1880)
• P. h. flaviventris (Cabanis, 1873)
• P. h. icterica (Bond, J, 1953)
• P. h. albigula Chapman, 1921
• P. h. inornata Snethlage, E, 1914

Some mid-twentieth century authors treated P. h. inornata as a subspecies of the brown-headed greenlet (Hylophilus brunneiceps). Subspecies P. h. flaviventris was described as a full species and often treated that way until the mid-twentieth century. ^[5]

Description

The dusky-capped greenlet is 11.5 to 12 cm (4.5 to 4.7 in) long and weighs about 17 g (0.60 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies P. h. hypoxantha have a dull olive-brown forehead, crown, and nape. Their back is buffy olive and their rump a brighter yellowish olive. Their wings' primaries and secondaries are dull blackish gray with greenish edges on the outer webs. Their tail is yellowish olive with brighter edges on the feathers' outer webs and bases. Their chin and throat are dull buffy whitish and the rest of their underparts are pale yellow with a slight buffy wash. ^[6]

The other subspecies of the dusky-capped greenlet differ from the nominate and each other thus: ^[6]

• P. h. fuscicapillus: much browner upperparts than nominate though with greenish rump; pale yellow throat and strong yellow (no buff) breast
• P. h. flaviventris: duller brown upperparts than fuscicapillus with citrine cast on back; whitish throat and upper breast and strong yellow belly
• P. h. icterica: similar to flaviventris with brighter more yellow upperparts
• P. h. albigula: similar to fuscicapillus with darker crown and paler underparts
• P. h. inornata: sepia-brown crown, brighter sepia-brown back, olive rump, light gray chin and throat; grayish-olive breast and olive-washed light gray belly, both with yellow mixed in

All subspecies have a gray-brown iris, a dark brown maxilla, a pale brown or pinkish mandible, and gray legs and feet. ^[6]

Distribution and habitat

The subspecies of the dusky-capped greenlet are found thus: ^[6]

• P. h. hypoxantha: southeastern third of Colombia, east slightly into southwestern Venezuela's Amazonas state, and southeast into northwestern Brazil to the Solimões (Upper Amazon) river ^{[7] [8]}
• P. h. fuscicapillus: eastern Ecuador south into northern Peru to the Marañón River
• P. h. flaviventris: eastern Peru from the Marañón south to Ayacucho Department
• P. h. icterica: extreme southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and western Brazil
• P. h. albigula: northern Brazil south of the Amazon between the Purus River and the Iriri and Xingu rivers
• P. h. inornata: northern Brazil south of the Amazon from the Tapajós River east to the Tocantins River

The dusky-capped greenlet inhabits humid terra firme and várzea forest, where it favors the subcanopy and canopy. ^[6] In Brazil it ranges in elevation from near sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft). ^[9] It reaches 800 m (2,600 ft) in Colombia, is mostly below 400 m (1,300 ft) in Ecuador, and reaches 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in Peru and at least 200 m (700 ft) and probably higher in Venezuela. ^{[7] [10] [11] [8]}

Behavior

Movement

The dusky-capped greenlet is believed to be a sedentary year-round resident. ^[6]

Feeding

The dusky-capped greenlet's diet has not been fully examined but is known to include adult and larval insects. It feeds actively, often hanging upside-down to glean prey from leaves. It usually forages in pairs and frequently joins mixed-species feeding flocks. ^{[6] [10]}

Breeding

Nothing is known about the dusky-capped greenlet's breeding biology. ^[6]

Songs and calls Listen to the dusky-capped greenlet on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The dusky-capped greenlet's song has been described as a "very high, cheerful is-it-so-wit or pichí-soweér". ^[9] Its call is "a wheezy dee-dee". ^[6]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the dusky-capped greenlet as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. ^[1] It is considered "uncommon" in Colombia, "obscure" in Ecuador, "widespread and fairly common" in Peru, and "common to frequent" in Brazil. ^{[7] [10] [11] [9]} It is known in Venezuela from only a few records. ^[8]

References

1. BirdLife International (2018). "Dusky-capped Greenlet Pachysylvia hypoxantha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T22705303A130388750. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22705303A130388750.en . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
2. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (March 2025). "Vireos, shrike-babblers". IOC World Bird List. v 15.1. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 29 September 2025. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithological Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved September 29, 2025
4. von Pelzeln, August (1871). Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens: Resultate von Johann Natterers Reisen in den Jahren 1817 bis 1835. A. Pichler’s Witwe & Sohn. p. 71. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
5. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 29 September 2025. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithological Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved September 29, 2025
6. Brewer, D. (2020). Dusky-capped Greenlet (Pachysylvia hypoxantha), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ducgre1.01 retrieved November 21, 2025
7. McMullan, Miles; Donegan, Thomas M.; Quevedo, Alonso (2010). Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Bogotá: Fundación ProAves. p. 178. ISBN   978-0-9827615-0-2.
8. Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela (second ed.). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 680.
9. van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 338–339. ISBN   978-0-19-530155-7.
10. Ridgely, Robert S.; Greenfield, Paul J. (2001). The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide. Vol. II. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. pp. 569–570. ISBN   978-0-8014-8721-7.
11. Schulenberg, T.S.; Stotz, D.F.; Lane, D.F.; O'Neill, J.P.; Parker, T.A. III (2010). Birds of Peru. Princeton Field Guides (revised and updated ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 508. ISBN   978-0691130231.