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
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Azure-crowned Hummingbird
Saucerottia cyanocephala
Medium-sized hummingbird of oak and pine-oak woodlands and adjacent shrubby clearings; also local in lowland pine savannas. Sexes look alike and often look rather dull overall, despite the name. Note the whitish throat and breast offset by a dusky vest, and the dusky brownish rump and tail. Crown and sides of head are blue (rarely catching the light), with a white spot behind the eye and some red at base of bill.
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Henicopernis longicauda
A large, long-tailed raptor of lowland and montane forest and clearings. Commonly seen in flight soaring in circles over the canopy with wing and tail feathers spread, showing strong barring. The only similar looking raptor that regularly soars is Pacific Baza, but Long-tailed Honey-buzzard has a streaked chest and lacks the buffy underwing and belly. When perched, similar to Doria’s Goshawk, but has yellow eyes and white legs. Usually silent.
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