Sierra Nevada Brushfinch

Overview

The Sierra Nevada brushfinch (Arremon basilicus) is a Near Threatened species of bird in the family Passerellidae, commonly known as the New World sparrows. It is endemic to Colombia, where it is a year-round resident.

Identification

• Approximately 19 cm (7.5 in) in length with sexes displaying identical plumage.
• Features a black crown with a central gray stripe, a gray supercilium extending to the nape, and a black face.
• Olive-green upperparts, wings, and tail contrast with a white throat bearing a narrow black band, and a white central breast and belly with brownish olive flanks.
• Song consists of a high-pitched sibilant series of notes delivered very fast with a nervous quality, including quavering high-pitched whistles.

Habitat

Found exclusively in the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in far northern Colombia. It inhabits humid montane forest, favoring the undergrowth at the edges, at elevations ranging between 600 and 2,800 m.

Diet

Forages singly or in pairs on the ground, usually under vegetative cover, by pushing aside leaf litter with its bill. The specific dietary composition of this species has not been studied.

Did you know?

Despite its restricted range and the increasing destruction of its habitat by illegal agricultural expansion, logging, and burning, its population is considered locally common and the impact on its size is likely negligible due to its preference for edge habitats.