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To the Beauty of Birds

The Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It was formerly placed in the Emberizidae and is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).

It was previously considered conspecific with the red-capped cardinal. It is from Trinidad, north-eastern Colombia and northern Venezuela and markedly differs from these two by the black ear-coverts and the red (not black) lower throat and upper chest. Additionally, its lower mandible is typically whitish, but this is not entirely consistent, as it occasionally is pale flesh-colored. This distinctive taxon as a distinct species, as suggested by the lack of hybridization with P. g. gularis in the limited area of overlap in southern Venezuela. The common name masked cardinal was suggested.

These were photographed near Caroni Swamp, Trinidad

Masked Cardinal

Masked Cardinal juvenile-67

Masked Cardinal juvenile-64

Masked Cardinal juvenile-74

Masked Cardinal juvenile-52

Masked Cardinal juvenile-32

Masked Cardinal juvenile-66