The black-and-yellow phainoptila or black-and-yellow silky-flycatcher (''Phainoptila melanoxantha'') is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

in the family

Ptiliogonatidae The silky-flycatchers are a small family, Ptiliogonatidae, of passerine birds. The family contains only four species in three genera. They were formerly lumped with waxwings and hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that ...

. It is

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

within the genus ''Phainoptila''. It is found in

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

and

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

Description

The black-and-yellow phainoptila is a small, rotund

with distinctive yellow flanks. Males have a black back, head and tail, yellow flanks and rump, olive breasts and grey bellies. Females have a black cap, olive breast, rump, wings and tail, yellow flanks, and grey throat,

nape The nape is the back of the neck. In technical anatomical/medical terminology, the nape is also called the nucha (from the Medieval Latin rendering of the Arabic , "spinal marrow"). The corresponding adjective is ''nuchal'', as in the term ''nu ...

, and belly. The young are similar to adult females, but are duller and with no grey on

and dusky streaking on breast.

Habitat and range

Black-and-yellow phainoptilas are found from

to western

, in mountains from 1800 m (6000 ft.) to timberline, although they may wander lower after

breeding season Seasonal breeders are animal species that successfully mate only during certain times of the year. These times of year allow for the optimization of survival of young due to factors such as ambient temperature, food and water availability, and cha ...

. They are also found in highland forests and adjacent second growth and

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate both ...

Habits and voice

Black-and-yellow phainoptilas frequent middle levels and upper understory of highland forests. Eats mainly of berries of trees,

epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

s, and shrubs. Rather sluggish and sedentary, often spends long periods of time stuffing itself with berries from a single tree. Occasionally accompanies sooty-capped bush tanager flocks, but soon lags behind. Occasionally plucks insects from foliage or catches them in the air, though not often. Usually found alone or pairs, forms loose flocks after

. Call is a high, sharp, thin ''tsit'' or ''tseep'', suggesting a much smaller bird. Appears to not sing.

Nesting

The

nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materia ...

is a compact, bulky, cup of green moss, thin stems and fern

fronds A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...

. Found 5–13 ft. (1.5–4 m) up in a dense shrup or

sapling In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

. Lays 2 spotted, greyish-white eggs. Nesting occurs from April to May.

References

black-and-yellow phainoptila Birds of the Talamancan montane forests black-and-yellow phainoptila black-and-yellow phainoptila Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{passeri-stub