White-naped Brushfinch

Overview

The white-naped brushfinch (Atlapetes albinucha), also known as the yellow-throated brushfinch, is a species of New World sparrow found from Mexico to Ecuador. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals that is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Adults of the nominate subspecies feature a mostly black head with a wide white stripe on the crown extending to the nape, dark slaty gray upperparts with an olive tinge, and yellow throat and underparts.
• Juveniles have medium sooty brown heads and upperparts with dark breast streaks and a brownish cinnamon wash on the flanks.
• The bird is 17 to 21 cm long and weighs 31 to 37 g, with a blackish bill and pinkish to dark gray-brown legs and feet.
• Its song is described as a series of high-pitched notes and trills, transcribed as "tseee'up-tseee'ew-ti'ti'ti'ti'ti'ti'ti...".

Habitat

The species inhabits the edges of montane evergreen forest, pine-oak forest, secondary forest, and scrublands within subtropical and lower temperate zones. It occupies a wide elevational range, mostly between 900 and 2,000 m, though specific elevations vary by region and subspecies. The distribution is disjunct, covering areas from the Caribbean slope of Mexico south to Ecuador.

Diet

This brushfinch feeds on insects and seeds, foraging singly or in pairs on the ground and in low vegetation. It often turns over leaf litter on the ground and occasionally attends army ant swarms.

Did you know?

The breeding season for this species has not been fully defined globally, but known periods range from April to September depending on the location. Its nest is a large cup made of twigs, grass, and leaves lined with finer materials like pine needles, typically placed in dense vegetation or on the ground.