Tricolored Brushfinch

Overview

The tricolored brushfinch, or golden-crowned brushfinch (Atlapetes tricolor), is a species of New World sparrow endemic to Peru. It is classified as monotypic and is currently considered of Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Size: 16 to 18 cm long, weighing approximately 36 g.
• Plumage: Adults possess a yellow to ocraceous crown and nape, a black face, and dark olive to olive-citrine backs; underparts are yellow with a strong olive wash on the sides and flanks.
• Features: Deep reddish brown iris, black bill, and grayish or dusky black legs.
• Song: A pleasant song consisting of two or three parts, usually featuring two long, descending introductory notes followed by a rapid series of notes; calls include a high 'ti'.

Habitat

Found on the eastern slope of the Andes in Peru, ranging from northern La Libertad Department to west-central Cuzco Department. It inhabits shrubby edges and openings of humid forest, secondary forest, and open cloudforest at elevations between 1,525 and 3,050 m. The species is a year-round resident in this region.

Diet

The specific diet of the tricolored brushfinch has not been studied, but it is known to forage up to 10 m above ground, contrasting with other brushfinches that forage mainly near the ground. It typically forages alone or in pairs and seldom joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Unlike many other members of the brushfinch family which forage primarily near the ground, the tricolored brushfinch is known to forage up to 10 m above ground.