Rufous-capped Brushfinch

Overview

The rufous-capped brushfinch (Atlapetes pileatus) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is endemic to Mexico and serves as the type species for the genus Atlapetes.

Identification

• Adults possess a rufous crown, a dark charcoal face, and a gray nape, with olive-green upperparts, wings, and tail.
• Underparts are mostly yellowish, featuring an olive tinge on the sides of the breast and a strong cinnamon tinge on the flanks and undertail coverts.
• The bird measures 14.5 to 16.5 cm in length and has a blackish bill with brown to dark red-brown irises.
• Song consists of 1–2 thin notes followed by 4 chipping notes that sometimes become a trill, while its call is described as an excited chik or chi-chi-chi-chi.

Habitat

Found in the highlands of northern and central Mexico, the species primarily inhabits pine-oak forest, as well as the edges of montane evergreen forest and montane scrublands. Its elevational range varies by source but generally spans from 750 m to 3,500 m.

Diet

The rufous-capped brushfinch feeds on insects and seeds, foraging on the ground where it turns over leaf litter, and not far above the ground in vegetation. It forages in pairs or family groups and sometimes attends army ant swarms.

Did you know?

The rufous-capped brushfinch was formally described in 1831 and is the type species for the entire genus Atlapetes.