Golden-crowned Flycatcher (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus) [XC276226]
by Jesse Fagan from Carchi: Chilma, Ecuador (call, calls)
Golden-crowned Flycatcher (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus) [XC778923]
by Francesco Barberini from Sta Cruz: Camino a Locotal, 2.9 km NNE Mirador de Siberia, Bolivia (dawn song)
Subspecies
Affinities of genus uncertain. Long hypothesized as being closest to Conopias, largely on basis of similar hole-nesting tendencies. Genus probably monophyletic, although this only weakly supported by recent analyses of molecular-sequence data (likely due to inappropriate markers for the apparently long branches and deep level of divergence within genus). Results of separate analyses of plumage/syringeal morphology and molecular data were not completely congruent, but do suggest some strong tentative conclusions. Previously considered conspecific with Golden-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes hemichrysus). Recovered as sister-taxa under certain coding schemes of morphological characters, and as a clade with very strong bootstrap support in all analyses of molecular data.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
minor Taczanowski & von Berlepsch, 1885 - Eastern Panama (Cerro Tacarcuna and Cerro Pirre, in Darién), western and eastern Colombia (throughout Andes, also La Macarena Mts in southern Meta) and Ecuador (southern on western slope to Alamor area of western Loja).
cinerascens Todd, 1912 - Northern Colombia (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta) through Sierra de Perijá to mountains of western and northern Venezuela (Andes, and in central Falcón coastal mountains east to Sucre and northern Monagas).
chrysocephalus (Tschudi, 1844) - Peru (central and eastern Andes from San Martín south to northern Puno, also recorded in western cordillera in Bosque de Cuyas), western Bolivia (La Paz south to Chuquisaca and Tarija) and extreme north-western Argentina (northern Salta).