Dull-colored Grassquit
Asemospiza obscura
This well-named little bird is found in the Andean foothills and adjacent lowlands from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Males and females are both equally drab, entirely medium brown with no distinctive markings. In most of range bill is bicolored, but in central and northern Colombia has an all dark bill. Very similar to females of several other seedeater and grassquit species, but in most of range note Dull-colored Grassquit’s bicolored bill. Uncommon and sometimes tricky to find as it forages inconspicuously in shrubbery at the forest edge or in gardens and second growth. Usually in pairs or small flocks. Listen for buzzy sputtering song that seems rushed.
Identification
This well-named little bird is found in the Andean foothills and adjacent lowlands from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Males and females are both equally drab, entirely medium brown with no distinctive markings. In most of range bill is bicolored, but in central and northern Colombia has an all dark bill. Very similar to females of several other seedeater and grassquit species, but in most of range note Dull-colored Grassquit’s bicolored bill. Uncommon and sometimes tricky to find as it forages inconspicuously in shrubbery at the forest edge or in gardens and second growth. Usually in pairs or small flocks. Listen for buzzy sputtering song that seems rushed.
Taxonomy
Genus: Asemospiza; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Asemospiza obscura
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Asemospiza
Range and habitat
It is found in northwestern Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and western Venezuela. It is a vagrant to Paraguay and central Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Sheppardia polioptera
Medium-sized robin with orange underparts and an olive-brown back. The tail is uniformly rufous, lacking the dark center of a typical robin-chat. There is some geographical variation, with the western birds showing a black cap and the eastern birds a gray one. Found in the undergrowth of various forest types at low and middle elevations. Shy and retiring. The song is a highly variable mix of notes which usually includes imitations of other bird species. Similar to akalats, but separated by its white eyebrow.
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna arcuata
Medium-sized dark whistling-duck with cream-colored flank plumes. Unlike Plumed Whistling-Duck, these plumes do not stick out and appear painted on the flanks. Often in smaller flocks around lakes, ponds, and dams. As the name suggests, note whistling call.
White-vented Whistler
Pachycephala homeyeri
Warm brown above and white below with a faint cinnamon wash near the “shoulders” that give it a “vested” appearance. Can be similar to Negros Jungle-Flycatcher, which is generally found at higher altitudes. Look for a combination of longer, smaller-headed profile, and incomplete, diffuse breast band in present species. Found from the central Philippines south to islands off Borneo’s northeastern coast, where it inhabits lowland to submontane forests. Frequently moves with mixed flocks, often in lower levels of forest, but can be found up into the canopy. Gives high, thin, clean-sounding whistles as well as various warbled and whistled notes.
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