Mourning Sierra Finch
Rhopospina fruticeti
Attractive bulky “finch” that is actually a tanager; found in scrubby habitats in the Andes and Patagonian steppe, often around villages and agricultural terraces. Locally common, and at times in flocks of 100s, associating readily with other seed-eating birds. All plumages have narrow but distinct white wingbars, unlike other similar species. Male has a yellow bill, a variable black “shield” on face and breast (some birds are wholly black on head and breast), and black streaking on the back. Female is quite different, with a warm brown cheek patch, a pinkish bill, and dark streaking below.
Taxonomy
The mourning sierra finch was formally described and illustrated in 1883 by the German naturalist Heinrich von Kittlitz under the binomial name Fringilla fruticeti. This species was formerly included in the genus Phrygilus. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that Phrygilus was polyphyletic, and in the subsequent rearrangement, the mourning sierra finch was moved to the resurrected genus Rhopospina that had been introduced in 1851 by Jean Cabanis. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek rhōps meaning "bush" with spina meaning "finch". The specific epithet is from the Latin fruticetum meaning "thicket".<p>Three subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Rhopospina fruticeti
- Authority
- (Kittlitz, 1833)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Rhopospina
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo
Chalcites ruficollis
A small cuckoo of montane rainforest. Compact with a pale rufous throat and underparts with broad dark bands on a white background all the way to the tail. Sits motionless for long periods scanning for insect prey but sometimes joins mixed species flocks. Co-occurs with White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo but Rufous-throated lacks the white ear crescents and of course has the rufous throat. Voice, high piping notes, either level “peep!” or falling “piuu!” given singly or in a series.
Slender-billed Greenbul
Stelgidillas gracilirostris
Slim, long-tailed greenbul with an olive-brown back and gray underparts. When seen well, shows a red eye. Found in the canopy of humid forest. Can be found singly, in pairs, or in small groups. The most common vocalization is a long, descending whistle: “teeeiow.” The contrast between the dark upperparts and gray underparts make this a distinctive species by greenbul standards.
Black-faced Antbird
Myrmoborus myotherinus
Short-tailed antbird of forest understory. Both sexes have black face. Males are gray with white wingbars; females are brown above, buffy below, with cream wingbars and a white or buffy throat. Forages singly or in pairs low in the undergrowth of mature forest. Usually inhabits more mature forest than similar White-browed Antbird, but there is some overlap. Note differences in facial pattern; males lack the white eyebrow and females lack the orange eyebrow seen on White-browed Antbirds. Female Black-faced Antbirds also have browner underparts than White-browed. Listen for an even-paced series of 5–7 whistles that is slightly higher in the middle. In the southern part of its range, these whistles are pure-toned; in the north, they are harsher.
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