Amazonian Grosbeak
Cyanoloxia rothschildii
Chunky, stout-billed bird of humid evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands. Occurs from throughout much of the Amazon basin (east of the Andes). Usually found in pairs, often skulking at low to middle levels in lush vegetation. In typical views, looks simply dark. Note the very stout bill and broad tail, which can be twitched side to side. Male is deep blue-black overall. Female is rich dark brown overall. Sharp squeaky call often doubled and rather distinctive.
Identification
The Amazonian grosbeak is 14.5 to 15 cm (5.7 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 21.5 to 31 g (0.76 to 1.09 oz). The adult male is mostly dark blue. Its forecrown and part of the wings are light blue and the underparts are blackish on the belly. It has a bit of black on the face. The female's upperparts are dark brown and the underparts a paler brown. Juveniles are similar to the female.
Taxonomy
The Amazonian grosbeak is monotypic. It was formerly considered a subspecies of blue-black grosbeak (Cyanoloxia cyanoides) and following 2014 and 2016 publications it was elevated to species status.
- Scientific name
- Cyanoloxia rothschildii
- Authority
- (Bartlett, E, 1890)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Genus
- Cyanoloxia
Range and habitat
The Amazonian grosbeak is the most widely distributed grosbeak in the Amazon Basin. It is found from eastern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador and Peru to central Bolivia, from southern and eastern Venezuela east through the Guianas, and in all of Amazonian Brazil. In Venezuela it ranges in elevation from near sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), in Peru to 1,400 m (4,600 ft), and in Bolivia mostly to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and rarely to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). It inhabits the understory and edges of humid primary and tall secondary forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Little is known about the Amazonian grosbeak's feeding behavior and diet, though it appears to eat mostly seeds and fruit with some insects as well.<p>Almost nothing is known about the Amazonian grosbeak's breeding phenology. It appears to nest between January and June. The nest is a cup of dried leaves and fern stems and the clutch size is two.<p>The Amazonian grosbeak's song has been rendered as "pee tee-tu-tu-ti-pee'chee". Its call is "a sharp, harsh, dry tchit". As of May 2021, no recordings were available at Xeno-canto or the Macaulay Library.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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