Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) [XC534575]
by Jerome Fischer from RNA Arrierito Anqioque\u00f1o, Anor\u00ed, Antioquia, Colombia (call)
Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) [XC726240]
by from East of and above Guayabetal, Cundinamarca, Colombia (call)
Subspecies
Zimmerius chrysops (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993; Stotz et al. 1996) has been split into Zimmerius chrysops and Zimmerius albigularis following SACC (2008). An additional outcome of this taxonomic reassessment is that subspecies flavidifrons of Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) and southern populations of chrysops of Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) have been transferred to Peruvian Tyrannulet (Zimmerius viridiflavus).
Despite superficial resemblance to Phyllomyias, genus appears to be more closely related to Phylloscartes. This species was formerly placed in a separate genus, Tyranniscus, but exhibits plumage and morphological features (wing pattern, proportionally long tail and bill, and derived characters of both syrinx and palate) typical of present genus. Often treated as conspecific with Peruvian Tyrannulet (Zimmerius viridiflavus), but separated on basis of plumage and voice. Subspecies albigularis and flavidifrons possibly represent a separate species.
Proposed subspecies molestus (described from Cauca, in western Andes of Colombia) merged with nominate.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
minimus (Sclater, 1859) - Northern Colombia (Santa Marta Mts, northern Magdalena). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Coopmans's Tyrannulet (Zimmerius minimus).
cumanensis (J. T. Zimmer, 1941) - North-eastern Venezuela (Anzoátegui, Sucre, Monagas). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Coopmans's Tyrannulet (Zimmerius minimus).
chrysops (Sclater, 1859) - Sierra de Perijá and Andes of north-western Venezuela, Colombia (except Nariño), eastern Ecuador and northern Peru (south to San Martín).
albigularis (Chapman, 1924) - South-western Colombia (Nariño) and western Ecuador (south to Guayas). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Choco Tyrannulet (Zimmerius albigularis).
flavidifrons (P. L. Sclater, 1860) - South-western Ecuador (south-eastern Guayas south to western Loja). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Loja Tyrannulet (Zimmerius flavidifrons). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Peruvian Tyrannulet (Zimmerius viridiflavus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet