Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli Scientific name definitions

The very attractively plumaged Golden-browed Warbler is almost endemic to western and southern Mexico, although its range reaches as far south as Honduras and El Salvador. It is generally considered to be most closely related to the Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons), and the two species certainly do possess similar plumage. Overall, the Golden-browed Warbler is much like many other Basileuterus warblers in being olive-green above and largely yellow below, including the throat, but the head pattern is distinctive in having a rufous crown and ear coverts, separated by a broad golden supercilium bordered above by black, and it also has black lores. It is found in humid forests between 1200 and 3500 m. Pairs seem to remain on their territories for most of the year, and the species rarely appears to join mixed-species flocks.

13 cm; 7–13 g. Nominate race has rufous crown  and ear-coverts divided by long bright yellow supercilium  which is narrowly bordered above with black, lores blackish; nape and upperparts bright olive-green; throat and underparts bright yellow, washed olive on side of breast and flanks; iris dark; bill blackish; legs dusky pinkish. Sexes similar. Juvenile has olive-brown head and upperparts, cinnamon-buff wingbars on greater and median upperwing-coverts, throat and breast paler olive-brown, becoming pale yellowish on lower underparts, tawny-olive wash on flanks. Races vary minimally, mainly in extent and width of black upper border of supercilium, tone of rufous on head and colour of lores: bateli  has upperparts paler and yellower than nominate, lores normally rufous (not black), paler yellow below; clarus is paler and more yellowish-olive above than nominate, crown and cheek paler rufous, lores dark chestnut (concolorous with ear-coverts), lateral crownstripe shorter, thinner and indistinct, underside brighter yellow; <em>scitulus</em> resembles previous, but darker and duller olive above , lateral crownstripe even shorter and fainter; subobscurus is darker and greyer than last.

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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.

Song  a rapid series of high-pitched notes on various pitches, but often upslurred at end. Most common call  a high, drawn-out "bzweeech" with slight upward inflection.