Pileated Finch
Coryphospingus pileatus
A distinctive gray finchlike bird found at forest edges and in light woodlands and scrub. Males are mostly gray with a white throat and a black crown with a red center, which can be erected when the bird is excited. Females are brown above and paler below with weak streaks on the breast.
Identification
The grey pileated finch grows to a length of around 13 cm (5.1 in). The male has a white eye ring and a small patch of scarlet on the top of the head which can be raised as a crest, and this is partially concealed by the black plumage on the rest of the crown. The upper parts of the body, wings and tail are grey while the underparts are whitish, grading to grey on the flanks and breast. The female has a similar colouring but lacks the red and black on the head.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by the German naturalist Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied in 1821. Molecular analysis has shown that C. pileatus and the red pileated finch (C. cucullatus) belong in the tanager family, Thraupidae, and form a sister group to a group containing the fulvous-crested tanager, the black-goggled tanager, the shrike tanagers and the grey-headed tanager. There are three recognised subspecies; C. p. brevicaudus from northern Colombia and northern Venezuela; C. p. rostratus from the upper Magdalena River Valley, Colombia; and C. p. pileatus from central and eastern Brazil.
- Scientific name
- Coryphospingus pileatus
- Authority
- (Wied-Neuwied, M, 1821)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Coryphospingus
Range and habitat
This species is native to South America, being found in northern Venezuela and northern and eastern Colombia, with a separate population in eastern Brazil extending from Fortaleza southward to Rio de Janeiro and as far west as the southern Mato Grosso. It is a bird of deciduous woodland, moist woodland, forest borders, undergrowth and dry scrub, and its maximum elevation is about 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The grey pileated finch forages in small flocks, mostly on the ground but also in low undergrowth. Its diet is unknown. Breeding takes place in the wet season, this being some time between April and November in northern Venezuaella, and the exact timing depends on the onset of the rains.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
African Collared-Dove
Streptopelia roseogrisea
A pallid, medium-sized bird of dry scrub and desert; also agricultural land, towns, and gardens. Native to northern Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsiula; established in Puerto Rico and New Zealand, but also found in pockets across North America. Compare with Eurasian Collared-Dove, which also has a black collar on the hindneck; note that Eurasian Collared-Doves are generally darker overall, have more extensive black at the base of the undertail, and the primaries are distinctly darker than the remainder of the wing. In flight, Eurasian Collared-Doves have a tricolored pattern to the upperwing rather than the somewhat uniform appearance of African Collared-Doves. Song is “oo-rrroooo-oooo,” loudest at start, than trailing off.
Somali Crow
Corvus edithae
An entirely black crow with a fairly thick, raven-like bill. Found in a variety of dry country habitats, including savanna, thornscrub, desert, towns, and cultivated areas. Often in small flocks. Similar to Fan-tailed Raven, but has a different shape, especially in flight, with a much longer tail. Very similar to Brown-necked Raven, but smaller, and there is little overlap in range. Typical birds look very different from Pied Crow, but these two species sometimes hybridize, producing birds with white blotching on the back and underparts. The calls are typical rough cawing notes.
Selayar Whistler
Pachycephala teysmanni
Medium-sized songbird, endemic to Selayar, off southwestern Sulawesi. Quite drab overall, with a gray head, white throat, yellow belly, and olive back. Like other Pacycephala whistlers, a forest species, often seen gleaning insects from the foliage. Vocalizations are poorly known, but includes a short whistled song that starts with a quiet descending note, followed by two loud rising whistles and a decisive-sounding descending note: tso-WEE-WEE-dzo! Formerly treated as a subspecies of Tenggara Whistler.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.