Masked Tityra

The masked tityra (Tityra semifasciata) is a medium-sized passerine bird. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country, and every northern and central mainland South American country except the Guianas. == Taxonomy and systematics == The masked tityra was originally described in 1825 as Pachyrhynchus semifasciatus. However, genus Pachyrhynchus had been created in 1820 for beetles so by the principle of priority the masked tityra required assignment to a different genus. It eventually was placed in Tityra that Viellot had erected in 1816. All of the tityras were for a time included in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae before they, becards, and a few other species were assigned to their current family Tityridae. The masked tityra has these nine subspecies: T. s. hannumi Van Rossem & Hachisuka, 1937 T. s. griseiceps Ridgway, 1888 T. s. deses Bangs, 1915 T. s. personata Jardine & Selby, 1827 T. s. costaricensis Ridgway, 1906 T. s. columbiana Ridgway, 1906 T. s. nigriceps Allen, JA, 1888 T. s. semifasciata (Spix, 1825) T. s. fortis Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896 == Description == The masked tityra is 20 to 24 cm (7.9 to 9.4 in) long and weighs 77 to 88 g (2.7 to 3.1 oz).…