Eastern Colombia (Arauca south to northern Meta) and northern Venezuela in llanos along R Orinoco basin (Cojedes south to Barinas and western Apure, east to Delta Amacuro and northern Bolívar); also Trinidad.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2011).
Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) [XC465722]
by id from Hato La Hidra, Las Vegas, Cojedes 9.21, -68.32, Venezuela (song)
Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) [XC227222]
by Rosendo Manuel Fraga from Orinoco river islands, Amazonas, Venezuela (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Paroaria gularis (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993; Stotz et al. 1996) has been split into Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis) and Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) following SACC (2011).
Recent molecular-genetic research indicates that genus belongs in the tanager family (Thraupidae), forming a clade with, among others, Cissopis and Schistochlamys. Curiously, members of latter two genera are similar in some plumage features and in bill shape to some members of present genus. This species may form a superspecies with Crimson-fronted Cardinal (Paroaria baeri), Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis) and Yellow-billed Cardinal (Paroaria capitata) and all have sometimes been placed in a separate genus, Coccopsis. Previously considered conspecific with Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis), but appears not to be genetically close enough to it to warrant such treatment.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet