Golden-fronted Greenlet Pachysylvia aurantiifrons Scientific name definitions

The Golden-fronted Greenlet is found in scrubby and lightly wooded areas in southernmost Central America and northern South America, including on the island of Trinidad. Despite its name, the species is chiefly distinguished from other sympatric Hylophilus species by its buffy-brown head and underparts, which contrast with its green wings and tail. Three subspecies are generally recognized and these differ principally in the relative color saturation below. Like other greenlets, this species joins mixed-species foraging flocks to some extent, and can feed quite acrobatically, sometimes hanging upside-down, but is perhaps most consistently located by its relatively loud and frequently repeated song.

11–12 cm; 7·5–12 g, mean 9·5 g. Nominate race has top of head buffy brown, forehead more olive-ochre; upperparts greenish-brown, becoming more yellowish-green on rump; upperwing-coverts and shoulders dull greenish-brown; primaries and secondaries dull blackish-grey, narrow greenish edgings on outer webs (giving greenish appearance to closed wing); rectrices dull olive-green; chin and throat dull whitish-buff, chest dull greyish-yellow, brighter at side; lower belly and vent yellowish; iris brown or black; bill mostly dusky horn above, dusky pinkish below; legs greyish-brown or plumbeous. Sexes alike. Juvenile not yet formally described. Race saturata is similar to nominate, but underparts more brightly coloured, with stronger buffy or ochraceous wash on chest; helvina is closer to previous, but decidedly darker above, darker reddish-brown on crown, brownish wash on side of neck and upper breast darker and more extensive, flanks greener, undertail-coverts darker yellow.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.