Dusky Chlorospingus

Overview

The dusky chlorospingus, also known as the dusky bush tanager, is a small bird species in the New World sparrow family, Passerellidae. It is found in the Andes of western Colombia and southwestern Ecuador, where it inhabits wet montane forests. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing due to deforestation.

Identification

• Length: 14 to 15 cm; Weight: 17 to 23 g.
• Plumage: Dark gray crown and face with a possible tiny white spot behind the eye; dark olive upperparts and tail; brownish gray underparts with an olive tinge on the breast and flanks.
• Bill and Legs: Blackish bill; dark gray legs and feet.
• Song: A series of high-pitched, hummingbird-like notes that speed up and intensify before ending in a dry sputter; also includes high-pitched chips and thin penetrating trills.

Habitat

The dusky chlorospingus inhabits wet montane forest in the foothills and subtropical zones of western Colombia and southwestern Ecuador, favouring foggy areas heavy with epiphytes. Its elevation range is between 1,200 and 2,400 m in Colombia and mostly between 1,200 and 2,200 m in Ecuador.

Diet

The species feeds on insects, berries, and small fruits, typically foraging in pairs or groups of up to 20 individuals, often joining mixed-species flocks. It forages mostly in the forest understory interior but also at the forest edge, taking food by hopping along branches and stopping to glean while perched.

Did you know?

A 2021 study determined that a population previously classified as the common chlorospingus in southwestern Ecuador actually belongs to the dusky chlorospingus, leading to the recognition of the new subspecies xanthothorax by several major taxonomic authorities in 2022 and 2025.