Masked Cardinal
Paroaria nigrogenis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyThraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
- GenusParoaria (Red-headed Cardinals)
- SpeciesParoaria nigrogenis (Masked Cardinal)
The masked cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae). It is found in Trinidad, far north-eastern Colombia, and northern Venezuela. It was previously considered conspecific with the red-capped cardinal (Paroaria gularis), from which it differs by the black ear-coverts and the red (not black) lower throat and upper chest. Additionally, its lower mandible is typically whitish, but this is not entirely consistent, as it occasionally is pale flesh-coloured. This distinctive taxon is a distinct species, as suggested by the lack of hybridization with P. g. Wikipedia →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Masked Cardinal sighting in Caroni Swamp, based on 235 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Caroni Swamp
Bicolored Conebill
Conirostrum bicolor
Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Blue-black Grassquit
Volatinia jacarina
Saffron Finch
Sicalis flaveola
Olivaceous Saltator
Saltator olivascens
White-lined Tanager
Tachyphonus rufus
White-shouldered Tanager
Loriotus luctuosus
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus picus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caroni Swamp | 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 2 | Chingaza National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 3 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Masked Cardinal in Caroni Swamp?
About 52% of wildlife watchers report a Masked Cardinal sighting in Caroni Swamp, based on 235 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Masked Cardinal in Caroni Swamp?
December has the highest sighting rate for Masked Cardinal in Caroni Swamp in our monthly data.