Yellow-thighed Brushfinch

Overview

The yellow-thighed brushfinch (Atlapetes tibialis) is a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is a year-round resident found in Costa Rica and western Panama. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Approximately 18 cm long with a black crown and sooty slate upperparts that are nearly black on the wings and tail.
• Puffy lemon yellow feathers on the tibiae, which give the species its English name (absent in juveniles).
• Blackish chin and throat with dull slate underparts.
• Song is described as high, spritely, and somewhat squeaky, with terms like "bubbly" and "tinkling" also used.

Habitat

Inhabits montane evergreen and secondary forests, as well as brushy pastures, clearings, and gardens in the subtropical and temperate zones. Its range covers the Cordillera de Tilarán, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica, extending into western Panama's Chiriquí Province. Elevational ranges vary by source, typically between 1,200 and 3,400 m.

Diet

Feeds on insects, spiders, seeds, fruits, and nectar, though its diet has not been systematically studied. It forages in pairs, family groups, or mixed-species flocks, primarily on the ground and in the understory but occasionally as high as the canopy.

Did you know?

The bird's taxonomic history is complicated, with its genus placement shifting between Tachyphonus, Buarremon, and Pselliophorus before recent mergers into Atlapetes. It also lays a small clutch of two pale bluish eggs with brown speckles, incubated solely by the female.