The white-naped xenopsaris (Xenopsaris albinucha) is a bird in the family Tityridae found in the South American countries of Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. It lives in open woodland and other open forest habitats, and is mostly sedentary, though some populations may be migratory. The only species in its genus, it is closely related to becards and tityras, and was thought to be either a tyrant-flycatcher or cotinga before it was placed in the Tityridae family. The bird is 12.5 to 13 cm (4.9–5.1 in) in length, with whitish undersides, a black crown and grey-brown upperparts. The sexes are similar in appearance, though the females have duller upperparts. It feeds on insects in the foliage of trees and bushes, and sometimes on the ground. In a simple cup nest in the fork of a tree, both parents incubate the eggs and help feed the chicks. After the chicks have fledged, the parents may divide the brood, each helping one or two chicks. The species is not common and little is known about it, but it is not in danger of extinction.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-naped_xenopsaris

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

572:

Alboin, king of the Lombards, was assassinated in a coup d'état instigated by the Byzantines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboin

1841:

Giselle (Anna Pavlova pictured in the title role), a ballet by French composer Adolphe Adam, was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique in Paris. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giselle

1904:

In Denmark's worst maritime disaster, SS Norge ran aground on Hasselwood Rock, Helen's Reef, in foggy weather, and sank, resulting in more than 635 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Norge

1942:

World War II: The German Wehrmacht launched Case Blue, a strategic summer offensive intended to knock the Soviet Union out of the war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_Blue

2009:

Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was ousted by a local military coup following his attempt to hold a referendum to rewrite the Honduran constitution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Honduran_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

honda: 1. (western US) A closed loop or eyelet at one end of a lariat or lasso, through which the other end of the rope is passed to form a much larger loop. 2. (western US) A grommet or other device intended to strengthen or otherwise improve a simple rope honda. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/honda

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

All that time is lost which might be better employed.   --Jean-Jacques Rousseau https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau