ID Keys: Obvious red eye-ring and base of bill, gray upperparts,
white underparts, grey head on female, black head on male
The
Masked Tityra is only a vagrant to the United States, as their normal range
is in central to southern Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern
South America. They have only been found within the United States on one
occasion (at the time of this writing), when a lone bird was found in
Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in Texas, in 1990.
Habitat
Found in a variety of forested settings,
but they can also be found near forest clearings and edges, second-growth
forest, plantation forest, and agricultural lands.
Diet
Feeds heavily on fruits and berries, but
will also consume insects, particularly during the breeding season when
insects are fed to the young.
Behavior
Often forages by perching conspicuously
on a tree branch, sallying out to snag insects that it spots. Will
also clamber through foliage for fruits and berries.
Nesting
The nest of a Masked Tityra is a tree
cavity, often a cavity that used to be a woodpecker nest. The female
typically lays 2 eggs and she alone incubates them. Both parents
feed the young once they hatch. Young fledge after about 3 weeks.
Song
The song is a squeaky chet-chet-chet,
as well as a buzzy zrrt-zrrrt-zrrrt
Migration
They are considered permanent residents
throughout their normal range, but short-distance movements are noted in
response to availability of fruit and other food items.
