The brown-capped whitestart or brown-capped redstart (Myioborus brunniceps) is a species of bird in the family Parulidae, the New World warblers. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The brown-capped whitestart was formally described in 1837 with the binomial Setophaga brunniceps.

The brown-capped whitestart is monotypic. What are now the three subspecies of the tepui whitestart (M. castaneocapilla) were previously considered subspecies of the brown-capped.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 25 July 2026

Description

The brown-capped whitestart is about long and weighs . The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly gray head with a rufous crown, a whitish stripe above the lores, and white crescents above and below the eye. Their upperparts and wings are mostly gray with an olive mantle. Their tail is black with much white on the outer feathers. Their throat and most underparts are yellow and their undertail coverts white. They have a dark iris, a blackish bill, and blackish legs and feet. Juveniles have a brownish gray head and upperparts, a buffy-brown throat and breast, and a pale yellow belly.Curson, J. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Brown-capped Redstart (Myioborus brunniceps), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brcred1.01 retrieved July 24, 2026

Distribution and habitat

The brown-capped whitestart has a disjunct distribution. Its larger range is on the eastern slope of the Andes from central Bolivia's La Paz Department south into northern Argentina as far as La Rioja Province. A smaller separate range is further south in the Sierras de Córdoba. Some maps show its range as continuous. The species inhabits the edges and clearings of forest and woodlands and is also found in gardens. In Bolivia it is found mostly in dry deciduous forest but favors more humid landscapes in Argentina. In Argentina it also is found mostly in native forest during the breeding season and at lower elevations in plantations of non-native species in the non-breeding. In elevation it overall ranges mostly between but locally reaches in Bolivia. In Argentina it is most common between but occurs as low as in the non-breeding season.

Behavior Movement

The brown-capped whitestart makes elevational movements in Argentina, breeding at higher elevations and moving down after that season. Movements of up to have been documented.

Feeding

The brown-capped whitestart feeds on adult and larval insects, spiders, and other arthropods. It forages mostly by gleaning from the forest's understory to its middle levels. It sometimes joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Most Myioborus whitestarts flick the white of their tails to startle ("start") prey but the brown-capped seldom does so.

Breeding

The brown-capped whitestart breeds between September and January. Its nest is a ball with a side entrance. It is made from decaying plant matter, straw, and grass lined with finer material and is well hidden on the ground or in a small hollow in an earthen bank. The clutch size is not known. The incubation period is about 16 days and fledging occurs about 12 days after hatch. Details of parental care are not known.

Vocalization

The brown-capped whitestart's song is "a fast, high-pitched and sibilant trill on one pitch"; it has been written as "see-see-see-see-see-see-see-see-seep". Its calls include "a repeated check or tchip note, extended into monotone rattle when agitated, e.g. prprprprpr.....a shishishishi.....a pist..pist..psit...and a tsktsktsk", each of which appears to have a different function.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the brown-capped whitestart as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered common throughout its range.

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References