Rufous-bellied Euphonia

Overview

The rufous-bellied euphonia (Euphonia rufiventris) is a small species of bird in the family Fringillidae. It is found in the western and central Amazon Basin, ranging from Venezuela and Colombia south through Peru and Bolivia into Brazil. The species is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Approximately 10 cm long with a stout bill.
• Adult males have a dark steel-blue head, throat, and upperparts, with orange underparts below the chest and hidden golden-yellow pectoral feathers.
• Adult females are mostly darkish olive on the upperparts with a yellowish tinge on the forehead, and gray underparts with olive-yellow sides.
• Both sexes possess a pale blue-gray bill with a black tip, dark brown irises, and dark gray legs.
• Song described as a disjointed, mechanical series of pure whistles, quiet liquid sounds, and short warbles.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits humid to wet várzea and terra firme forest, regularly occurring at forest edges and in mature secondary forest. It ranges across the western and central Amazon Basin, found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Elevation varies by country, reaching up to 1,100 m in Venezuela and Brazil.

Diet

Feeds primarily on small fruits and berries, with smaller amounts of insects. It forages mostly singly or in pairs, though it regularly joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Foraging occurs primarily in the subcanopy and canopy, often in epiphytes such as bromeliads.

Did you know?

The species displays a distinct tail-twitching behaviour while foraging. Its vocalisations include a rapid, deep, ringing chatter described as 'tcheetcheetcheetchee'.