Amazonian Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) [XC671137]
by Fernando Igor de Godoy from Tapirap\u00e9 Aquir\u00ed National Forest, Brazil (song)
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) [XC258833]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Sucumb\u00edos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank R\u00edo Napo, Ecuador (call, calls)
Subspecies
Onychorhynchus coronatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was split into Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus), Pacific Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus occidentalis), Northern Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus mexicanus) and Atlantic Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus swainsoni) following Stotz et al. (1996) contra SACC (2005), pending the outcome of investigation into the taxonomy of this group by SACC.
Thought to be closest to Platyrinchus on basis of cranial and syringeal characters. Despite apparent similarity in voice across range, is sometimes split into four separate species on grounds of plumage variation and allopatric distributions, one in northern (mexicanus, fraterculus), one in Amazonia (nominate, castelnaui), one in western (occidentalis) and one in eastern (swainsoni). Further research required in order to determine validity or otherwise of such treatment. Within these groups racial variation doubtful. In particular, birds intermediate between mexicanus and fraterculus occur in Costa Rica and Panama.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
mexicanus (Müller, 1776) - Southern and eastern Mexico south to Panama. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Northern Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus mexicanus).
fraterculus Bangs, 1902 - Northern Colombia and north-western Venezuela. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Northern Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus mexicanus).
occidentalis (P. L. Sclater, 1860) - Western Ecuador, north-western Peru. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Pacific Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus occidentalis).
coronatus (Müller, 1776) - Southern and eastern Venezuela, the Guianas and north-eastern Brazil.
castelnaui Deville, 1849 - East of Andes, from south-eastern Colombia and extreme southern Venezuela (southern Amazonas) south to north-eastern Peru, much of Amazonian Brazil and northern Bolivia.
swainsoni (Pelzeln, 1858) - South-eastern Brazil. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Atlantic Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus swainsoni).