Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus Scientific name definitions

The Gray Silky-flycatcher is almost endemic to Mexico, although it just ranges into western Guatemala. Like the entire family, this is an attractive and easily identified species: the upperparts are brownish gray to pure gray, with a long, slender tail and a prominent crest, a noticeable pale eye-ring, bright yellow ventral feathering, and the rest of the underparts vary (with subspecies and sex) from deep gray to golden olive. These birds feed on both insects and fruits, and are typically found in montane forests, although they range into more open areas provided there are scattered trees. Their habit of making airborne sallies for prey and perching prominently makes them easy to observe.

18·5–21 cm. Slender, with prominent crest and long tail. Male nominate race has blue-grey head (including crest) and upperparts, dusky lores; flight-feathers and tail black, white band across base of tail ­extending about halfway down length of feathers (except for central pair); dull white or brownish-white chin and supraloral and malar regions, grey throat and chest, whitish belly, golden-olive or yellow flanks, bright yellow undertail-coverts; iris dark, narrow white eyering; bill and legs black. Female has grey head and crest, greyish-brown upperparts, brown sides and flanks, belly white. Juvenile resembles female, but paler below. Race molybdophanes  is darker than nominate, male deeper bluish-grey above, olive colour on flanks more restricted and olive-green (instead of golden-olive), female also darker except for yellow of undertail-coverts; otofuscus is most similar in colour to previous, but with lighter upperparts, darker auriculars, grey of underparts not extending so far on belly, female with greyer back, lighter rump and uppertail-coverts and darker breast than nominate; <em>pallescens</em> is similar to nominate but paler and greyer, male chin, throat and supraloral greyish-white (rather than brownish-white), auriculars greyer and less brown, female also paler and less brown, with grey cap and throat contrasting more sharply with back and breast.

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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.

Montane pine (Pinus), oak (Quercus) and juniper (Juniperus) forests, ranging into open areas with scattered trees; 1000–3500 m, lower in winter.

Generally resident. Some downslope movement in winter, when also wanders into adjacent habitat; may vacate NW Mexico, recorded as visitor near Alamos (S Sonora) and San Blas (Nayarit). In cloudforest near Xalapa, in Veracruz (E Mexico), common at 1300 m, in pairs or groups of 3–6 individuals, during Nov–Mar. Vagrant to USA.

Insects and berries . Berries  of mistletoes (Loranthaceae) especially important; numbers of present species vary with abundance of ripe fruits of the mistletoe Psittacanthus schiedeanus. Other fruits consumed include Monnina xalapensis and Eurya theoides. Captures aerial insects by sallying from a perch .

Loud “tu whip, tu whip ”, second note higher in pitch and more emphatic; dry “chi-che-rup che-chep”, and nasal “k-lik”; rattling note in flight. Quiet song a warbled series of “chuck” notes, high “seep” notes and quiet whistles.

In Mexico, two nests under construction in late May in Tamaulipas and nest with chicks in Jun in Morelos. Open cup-nest of oak catkins, coarse black hairs and vegetation, interior padded with stiff Usnea lichens (lining lacks grasses or long plant stems), large pieces of foliose lichen attached with cobwebs to exterior, placed 9 m up in oak tree. Clutch 2 eggs; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Common to fairly common in much of range; uncommon in NW Mexico (Sonora). Found in 32 Important Bird Areas, including seven protected areas, in Mexico. Not at any apparent risk, but cause for long-term concern because of globally restricted range. Listed on “Partners in Flight Watchlist”, considered of medium conservation concern. Legal harvest for cagebird trade surpasses 4000 individuals annually. An important disperser of mistletoe in cloudforest remnant near Xalapa (Veracruz), in Mexico.