Velvet-fronted Euphonia

Overview

The velvet-fronted euphonia (Euphonia concinna) is a small, sexually dimorphic finch endemic to the upper Magdalena River valley in Colombia. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing and it remains an uncommon resident species.

Identification

• Males display blue-black head and upperparts with a purplish gloss, a small yellow forecrown, and rich ochraceous to cinnamon-yellow underparts, while females are predominantly olive-gray with yellowish underparts and a faint supercilium.
• Measuring 9 to 10 cm in length and weighing between 9 and 12 g, the bird has a pale bluish gray bill with a blackish tip, dark brown irises, and dark gray legs.
• Vocalisations include a gravelly series of phrases such as "p’wheeet-wheeet...pa’weet" with rising wheeet notes and buzzy bzrrrr notes, accompanied by a clear high "dee-dee" or "tee dee-dee" call from both sexes.

Habitat

Found only in northern Tolima and southwestern Huila departments of Colombia, the species inhabits the edges of dry, patchy woodlands, ranchland with scattered trees, and lightly wooded streams. It typically occupies elevations between 200 and 1,000 m, occasionally reaching up to 1,800 m or 2,000 m depending on the source.

Diet

Feeding primarily on the fruits of mistletoe and other small fruits, the velvet-fronted euphonia is assumed to consume small numbers of insects. It usually forages high in trees, mostly in pairs or family groups, and while it seldom associates with other euphonias, it shares fruiting trees with other bird species.

Did you know?

Despite belonging to a genus of birds that often exhibit significant movement patterns, the velvet-fronted euphonia is a strict resident species that apparently does not wander.