Greyish Saltator

Taxobox
name = Greyish Saltator

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image_width = 240px
image_caption =
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
subclassis = Neornithes
infraclassis = Neognathae
superordo = Neoaves
ordo = Passeriformes
subordo = Passeri
infraordo = Passerida
superfamilia = Passeroidea
familia = see text
genus = "Saltator" (but see text)
species = "S. coerulescens"
binomial = "Saltator coerulescens"
binomial_authority = (Vieillot, 1817)

The Greyish Saltator, "Saltator coerulescens", is a seed-eating songbird that is widespread in the tropical Americas. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), the saltators actually seem to be closer to the tanagers (Thraupidae)See the genus article for details] . In El Salvador, it is well-known as "dichosofui" after the "elaborate" version of its call, which sounds like a drawn-out "¡dichoso fui!", Spanish for "I was happy!"

Description and systematics

On average, the Greyish Saltator is 20 cm long and weighs 52 g. The plumage depends on age and subspecies, but in general this bird has grey or greyish-olive upperparts, a white stripe over the eye, a narrow white throat, a grey breast and a buff or cinnamon belly.

The common call is a long-drawn upward slur, "ch'wheeet" or "ch'kweeee", sometimes with a more elaborate beginning, as "hi'whee chu weeeeh". The song is a warble, usually fairly short, varying from nasal to mellow.Howell & Webb (1995)]

The genus "Saltator" is apparently polyphyletic. Whether the present species will remain in "Saltator" or eventually be moved to another genus remains to be seen; it appears to be rather close to the type species, the Buff-throated Saltator, and thus seems more likely than not to retain its genus name.

There are 13 subspecies, several of which are considered full species by some authors, mainly on the basis of vocalisations. [Peterson (1999)]

Distribution and ecology

This species occurs in open woodland, plains and scrub, from Mexico through Central America into southern South America, south to Peru and the Paraná River region in northern Argentina [BLI (2004), Bencke (2007)] . The Greyish Saltator feeds on fruits [E.g. of "Trophis racemosa" (Moraceae): Forster (2007).] , buds and slow-moving arthropods. It forages at low and middle levels, sometimes in pairs or small groups and sometimes with mixed-species flocks that may include other saltators.

The two pale blue subelliptic eggs per clutch measure some 23–31.5 mm long by about 17–22 mm wide and weigh about 5 grams each. They look unusual for this genus as they have a circle of blackish-brown hairstreaks and dots around the blunt end [Echeverry-Galvis & Córdoba-Córdoba (2006)] . They are laid in a bulky cup nest 2–4 m high in a tree.

Footnotes

References

* (2007): Avifauna atual do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: aspectos biogeográficos e distribucionais ["The Recent avifauna of Rio Grande do Sul: Biogeographical and distributional aspects"] . Talk held on 2007-JUN-22 at "Quaternário do RS: integrando conhecimento", Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. [http://www6.ufrgs.br/alpp/Resumos_Quaternario_RS.pdf PDF abstract]
*|year=2004|id=54079|title=Saltator coerulescens|downloaded=12 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* (2006): Descripción del huevo del saltátor collarejo ("Saltator cinctus") y comentarios preliminares sobre huevos del género "Saltator". ["Description of the egg of the Masked Saltator ("S. cinctus") and preliminary comments on the eggs of the genus "Saltator"] . "Boletín de la Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología" 16(1): 76-84. [Spanish with English abstract] [http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/11Echeverry&CordobaSaltator.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (1991): "A guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago" (2nd edition). Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, N.Y.. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2
* (2007): The potential of fruiting trees to enhance converted habitats for migrating birds in southern Mexico. "Bird Conservation International" 17(1): 45-61. doi|10.1017/S0959270906000554 [http://journals.cambridge.org/production/action/cjoGetFulltext?fulltextid=936412 PDF fulltext]
* (2003): "Birds of Venezuela". Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
* (1995): "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America". Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York. ISBN 0-19-854012-4
* (1999): Birds of the World - current valid scientific avian names: [http://www.zoonomen.net/avtax/pa3m.html Cardinalidae] . Version of 2007-AUG-10. Retrieved 2007-SEP-17.
* (1989): "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica". Comistock, Ithaca. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4

External links

* [http://www.marn.gob.sv/patrimonio/ornitorfauna/Saltator%20coerulescens.jpgPhotograph] from the Salvadoran Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/mexsong2.html Bird song display list] with .wav file of call
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9643 Grayish Saltator videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Scientific&KEYWORDS=saltator+coerulescens&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 "Grayish Saltator" photo gallery] VIREO [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/species_image.php?species=Saltator+coerulescens Photo-High Res--(Close-up)]
* [http://www1.nhl.nl/~ribot/english/saco_ng.htm "Grayish Saltator" photos from Suriname]