Dull-colored Grassquit

Overview

The dull-colored grassquit (Asemospiza obscura) is a small bird in the family Thraupidae. It is currently classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 10.5 to 11.5 cm long with an average weight of 11.2 g.
• Brownish head and upperparts with a thin, pale supercilium and darker eye-line.
• Grayish brown throat, breast, and upper flanks with a paler belly.
• Song is described as explosive and buzzy, such as 'zeetig' or 'zeezeezig'.

Habitat

Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela, the species inhabits open landscapes such as forest edges, shrubby clearings, and dry scrublands. It occupies elevations from sea level in coastal Peru up to 2,100 m in other regions.

Diet

This bird feeds primarily on seeds, especially those of Panicum grasses, by landing on grass to bend seedheads down within cover. It usually forages singly or in pairs, though it occasionally forms small flocks.

Did you know?

The genus Asemospiza is closely related to Darwin's finches. Many records attributed to the sooty grassquit in Colombia are actually likely to be dull-colored grassquits, which are described as very hard to identify with certainty.