Black Flowerpiercer
Diglossa humeralis
Fairly small flowerpiercer found in the Andes from Venezuela to Peru. Entirely black with typical flowerpiercer bill: uniquely upswept with a hooked tip. In most of range, lacks gray shoulder patch, which helps separate from Glossy Flowerpiercer. However, population in eastern Andes of Colombia do show a gray shoulder patch, but it is smaller and duller than Glossy’s. Black is typically associated with dry scrubby habitats at high elevations, from 2,500-4,500m. Singles or pairs forage at low to middle levels.
Identification
Adult black flowerpiercers are 13–14 cm in length. They are uniformly black (slightly glossy black with subtle blue gloss in males). They have brown eyes and a black bill with a grey base. Females are a duller black with no blue gloss and their wings and tail are brownish. Juvenile birds are also duller.
Taxonomy
Genus: Diglossa; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Diglossa humeralis
- Authority
- (Fraser, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Diglossa
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Yellow-throated Euphonia
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Silvery Wood-Pigeon
Columba argentina
Beautiful grayish-white pigeon with black wing- and tail-tips. Rare, little-known, and extremely localized; now found only on islands off western Sumatra (though may occasionally wander onto the main island), where it forages in lowland and hill forest. Vocalizations poorly understood and seldom heard; documented giving deep, sonorous, rising coos.
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