The 

white-naped xenopsaris (Xenopsaris albinucha), also known as the reed becard and white-

naped becard, is a species of suboscine bird in the family Tityridae, the only member of
the genus Xenopsaris. It is found in South America, in humid subtropical and tropical
savanna climates in most of the countries east of the Andes: Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia,
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Living in open woodland and other open forest habitats, it is
mostly sedentary, though some populations may be migratory. The species, which is closely
related to becards and tityras, was thought to be either a tyrant-flycatcher or cotinga, before it
was placed in Tityridae.




The bird is 12.5 to 13 cm (4.9–5.1 in) in length, with whitish undersides, a black crown, and
grey-brown upperparts. The sexes are similar in appearance, though the females have duller
upperparts. It feeds on insects in the foliage of trees and bushes, and sometimes on the
ground. Nesting occurs in a simple cup nest placed in the fork of a tree. Both
parents incubate the eggs and help feed the chicks. When the chicks fledge, the parents may
divide up the brood to continue helping. The species is not common and little is known about
it, but it is not considered in danger of extinction, and has been classified as of least
concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.





From Santa Fe

The white-naped xenopsaris is smaller than the closely related becards and tityras, measuring
12.5 to 13 cm (4.9–5.1 in) in length and weighing around 10 g (0.35 oz). The
subspecies X. a. minor has the same plumage as the nominate subspecies, but is smaller;
the wing-chord (measurement from the wrist-joint to the end of the wing) length of the
nominate subspecies, for example, is 6.4 to 6.6 cm (2.5–2.6 in) compared to 6.0 to 6.2 cm (2.4–
2.4 in) in X. a. minor.[2]

The face, lores, throat, breast, belly and rump of this species are white; the undersides are
tinged with grey on the chest and yellow on the belly. The crown is glossy black in males.
The nape is pale grey with a grey-white to white band separating the crown from the back. The
wings are dusky greyish brown with white edging on the inner remiges and wing-coverts. The
tail is dusky brown, and the stout bill, iris and legs are black. The female is similar to the male,
but is duller overall and has a chestnut-tinged crown. Juvenile birds resemble adults but have
greyish napes and more chestnut in the crown,[2] and the feathers of the back, rump and
primaries are scalloped with ochre. The secondaries on the wing and the tail feathers are
edged with white.[11]

The song of this species is delicate, and does not carry far. It is most commonly heard during
the rainy season, but can be heard at any time of the day. The call is described as a thin, high-
pitched and hesitant "teep, tre'e'e'e'e'a eea wu'u'u'e'e'e-e-e-e-e-p" or a "twip, tsiweeé, tseee,
ti-ti-ti-ti", according to the Handbook of the Birds of the World. The initial trill is described as
rising and then falling, and the last trill is described as long. Birds may sometimes vary the
pattern and only use part of the song. The species is also described as making a squeaky and
undulating screech,[2] and males are described as whistling on the nest.[12] Foraging males
have been observed making an ascending "shreee" every few seconds while hunting for
insects.[13]

The white-naped xenopsaris looks somewhat similar to the cinereous becard, which overlaps
its range in Venezuela. The white-naped xenopsaris is smaller, with a longer tail, thinner bill,
whiter underparts (instead of grey) and browner upperparts (rather than greyish) .[2]