Olive Finch

Overview

The olive finch (Arremon castaneiceps) is a small passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is native to the Andes and is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Olive green plumage with a distinctive chestnut crown and nape.
• Dark grey face and throat, with wings and tail appearing darker than the body.
• Rounded tail, distinguishing it from other Arremon species.
• Black or dark grey bill, black tarsi and toes, and a brown or dark brown iris.
• Length of 15.5-16.5 cm, with males weighing 34.5-39 g and females 32-35 g.

Habitat

Found in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and far northern Peru, inhabiting subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It typically occupies humid, low mountain forests near ravines, forest edges, rivers, and streams at elevations between 700 and 2,200 m.

Diet

Forages in the forest understory and on the ground by hopping. While specific dietary details are limited, its diet is presumed to include seeds and insect parts.

Did you know?

The species is closely related to the sooty-faced finch, a connection significant enough that ornithologist Carl Eduard Hallmayr suggested they should be classified as the same species.