Other Scientific Names
Conopias albovittata [BirdLife International (2004)], Conopias albovittata [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Conopias albovittata [Stotz et al. (1996)]
White-ringed Flycatcher (Conopias albovittatus) [XC262253]
by Olaf Jahn from Esmeraldas: Playa de Oro, village and vicinity, R\u00edo Santiago, Ecuador (call, agitated calls)
White-ringed Flycatcher (Conopias albovittatus) [XC248250]
by Niels Krabbe from Esmeraldas: left bank Rio Santiago: Playa del Oro, Ecuador (dawn song)
Subspecies
Has been hypothesized, on basis of hole-nesting behaviour, that genus may be most closely related to Myiodynastes, with this clade basal to a "Tyrannus group" that also includes Megarynchus, Tyrannopsis, Empidonomus and Griseotyrannus. However, molecular-sequence data do not support an affinity between these two genera, but strongly suggest that present genus is part of that group to the exclusion of Myiodynastes. This species was formerly placed with Yellow-throated Flycatcher (Conopias parvus) in a separate genus, Coryphotriccus, on grounds mainly of slightly larger bill and presence of a coronal patch, but syringeal morphology is similar to that of present genus. The two are sometimes considered conspecific, but differ in plumage and, especially, voice. Furthermore, molecular-sequence data indicate substantial divergence between them, but also that they are closely related and represent a sister-group to a clade consisting of Lemon-browed Flycatcher (Conopias cinchoneti) and Three-striped Flycatcher (Conopias trivirgatus). Validity of subspecies distinctus questionable and a closer study is required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
distinctus (Ridgway, 1908) - Eastern Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama.
albovittatus (Lawrence, 1862) - Eastern Panama (eastern from Canal Zone), western Colombia (Chocó south to Nariño) and north-western Ecuador (Esmeraldas, north-western Pichincha and adjacent south-western Imbabura).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet