Masked cardinal

Masked cardinal
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Thraupidae
Genus:	Paroaria
Species:	P. nigrogenis
Binomial name
Paroaria nigrogenis (Lafresnaye, 1846)
Synonyms
Paroaria gularis nigrogenis

The masked cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It 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 (Paroaria gularis), 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 is a distinct species, as suggested by the lack of hybridization with P. g. gularis in the limited area of overlap in southern Venezuela. ^{[2] [3]} The common name masked cardinal was suggested. ^[4]

References

1. BirdLife International (2018). "Paroaria nigrogenis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T22736357A132189303. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22736357A132189303.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Dávalos, L.M.; Porzecanski, A.L. (2009). "Accounting for molecular stochasticity in systematic revisions: species limits and phylogeny of Paroaria". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (1): 234–248. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.06.003. PMID   19524053.
3. Jaramillo, Alvaro (October 2010). "Proposal 469A: Species limits in Paroaria". South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
4. Restall et al. (2006).

• Restall, Robin L.; Rodner, C. & Lentino, M. (2006): Birds of Northern South America. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN   0-7136-7243-9 (vol. 1). ISBN   0-7136-7242-0 (vol. 2).