Large-footed Finch

Overview

The large-footed finch (Pezopetes capitalis) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, despite its name suggesting a finch. It is the only member of its genus and is found in Costa Rica and Panama.

Identification

• 17 to 20 cm in length, weighing approximately 56 g, with a long tail and disproportionately small, slender bill.
• Very large legs and feet, appearing black or brownish.
• Black crown and face extending to the throat, contrasting with dark grey nape and supercilium; upperparts are olive green with blackish tails edged in olive.
• Underparts are paler olive green, more yellowish on the breast and belly, with reddish or mouse-brown irises.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits the edges and understory of montane evergreen and secondary forest, favouring areas with bamboo, as well as brushy openings, pastures, and páramo. It is found at elevations between 2,150 and 3,350 m, though it may occur locally down to 1,500 m in Panama and above timberline in Costa Rica. Its distribution is somewhat disjunct, ranging from northern Costa Rica's Cordillera Central to western Panama's Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí provinces.

Diet

The diet includes seeds, insects, and fruits. It forages by hopping on the ground, stopping to scratch leaf litter with both feet together, sending debris up to 30 cm away. It typically forages in pairs year-round and is not known to join mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Despite its name, the large-footed finch belongs to the family of New World sparrows rather than finches, a classification it only adopted after being originally described in the finch family. It is the sole member of its genus with no recognised subspecies.