Olive Finch

Arremon castaneiceps

A shy, stream-loving, finch-like bird of Andean cloud forest. Plumage is olive with a chestnut crown and gray face and throat. Sexes look alike. Single birds or pairs stay low in dark gullies and ravines, usually near running water but occasionally away from it. Sings a very high-pitched, squeaky song that can be heard over the roar of rushing torrents.

Identification

The olive finch (Arremon castaneiceps) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. Until recently, it was placed in the genus Lysurus. It is found in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and far northern Peru where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The olive finch is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. The olive finch is related to the sooty-faced finch and ornithologist Carl Eduard Hallmayr even suggested they should be classified as the same species.

Taxonomy

Genus: Arremon; Family: Passerellidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Arremon castaneiceps
Authority
(Sclater, PL, 1860)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Passerellidae
Genus
Arremon

Range and habitat

The olive finch is found in humid, low mountain forests, often near ravines, forest edges, rivers, and streams. It is found at elevations between 700-2200 meters in Columbia, 800-1800 m in Ecuador, and 750-1800 m in Peru.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Yellow-footed Honeyguide

Yellow-footed Honeyguide

Melignomon eisentrauti

Medium-sized honeyguide with a plain face, a slim pale bill, yellow legs, and large white patches in the outer tail. Found in the middle levels and canopy of humid forest at low and middle elevations. The distinctive vocalization is a series of around a dozen rising “sveeya” notes. The series slows down and becomes slightly lower-pitched at the end. Very similar to Zenker’s Honeyguide, but there is only minor overlap in range, and Yellow-footed is paler overall with more white in the tail. Similar to other honeyguides, but separated by the slim bill and the yellow legs. Separated from most greenbuls by the white in the tail, and from Honeyguide and Sjöstedt's Greenbuls by the smaller size and shorter tail. 

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.

Black-capped Kingfisher

Black-capped Kingfisher

Halcyon pileata

An unmistakable mid-sized kingfisher with a jet black head, white collar, and blood-red bill. It has purple-blue upperparts and pale orange-rufous underparts. Throat is white, blue tail has black underside, and in flight, white flashes on the underwings are conspicuous. Juvenile is duller blue with a small rufous-buff spot in front of the eye, a buffy collar, and dusky scaling on the breast. Calls similar to White-throated Kingfisher, but Black-capped’s are slightly higher-pitched. Frequents mangrove swamps and coastal wetlands, but often wanders up into hill streams. 

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