Ochre-breasted brush-finch

Atlapetes semirufus

Photo by Tony Morris (Wiki Aves de Colombia)

Common name:
ochre-brested brush-finch (en); tico-tico-de-peito-ocre (pt); tohi demi-roux (fr); atlapetes semirrufo (es); ockerbrust-buschammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found in the mountain of northern Venezuela and in the eastern slopes of the Andes in western Venezuela and northern Colombia as far south as Bogotá.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 29-33 g.

Habitat:
The ochre-breasted brush-finch is mostly found in the understorey of mountain rainforests, particularly along forest borders, also using second growths. They occur at altitudes of 600-3.500 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on seeds and arthropods, but also take some berries and small fruits.

Breeding:
These birds breed in March-July. The nest is built by the female, consisting of an open cup made of thick grasses and small sticks, and lined with thinner grasses and rootlets. It is concealed among grasses, vines or scrubs, and located up to 3 m above the ground. The female lays 2 white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which she incubates alone for 14-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-11 days after hatching. Each pair is believed to raise a single brood per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Sierra Madre sparrow

Xenospiza baileyi

Photo by Miguel Manzo (NaturaLista)

Common name:
Sierra Madre sparrow (en); escrevedeira-serrana (pt); bruant des sierras (fr); sabanero serrano (es); sierraammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to central Mexico, where it only occurs in two disjunct areas, one in Distrito federal, near Mexico City, and another in southern Durango.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 16-19 g.

Habitat:
The Sierra Madre sparrow is found in high-altitude grasslands, scrublands and pastures, favouring areas dominated by Muhlenbergia macroura, M. affinis, Festuca amplissima and Stipa ichu which are subject to agriculture and cattle activities. They occur at altitudes of 2.300-3.050 m.

Diet:
They feed on on moths, caterpillars, flying ants, earthworms, beetles, spiders, grass seeds, and sown oat seeds.

Breeding:
These birds breed in June-September. The female builds the nest, a cup made of coarse grasses and forbs, lined with fine grasses, rootlets and hairs, and placed on or near the ground, among grass clumps. There she lays 2-4 pale greenish-blue eggs with blackish spots and flecks, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 9-12 days after hatching, but remain near the nest for another 2 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a very small and fragmented breeding range, and the global population is estimated at 2.500-10.000 individuals. Although the global population trend as not been accurately estimated, suitable habitat within their range as possibly declined by nearly 50% over the last decade, suggesting the Sierra Madre sparrow is declining rapidly. Habitat loss is mainly caused by widespread burning to promote new growth of grazing pasture for sheep and cattle, but conversion for agriculture and urban encroachment are also problematic.  There is also a high level of nest failure owing to heavy predation which may be exacerbated by habitat fragmentation. Since 2008, a conservation project has endeavoured to preserve and restore the species habitat with the involvement of landowners and managers.

Long-tailed reed-finch

Donacospiza albifrons

Photo by Cláudio Timm (Wikipedia)

Common name:
long-tailed reed-finch (en); tico-tico-do-banhado (pt); donacospize des marais (fr); cachilo canela (es); riedammerfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found from south-eastern Brazil south to eastern Paraguay, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina, and there is also a disjunct population in northern Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 14-16,5 g.

Habitat:
The long-tailed reed-finch is mostly found in marshes and reedbeds with tall emergent vegetation such as Typha, Eryngium, Scirpus, also using wet grasslands and moist scrubland. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, but also take seeds. Sometimes they follow army ant swarms to hunt the insects flushes by the ants.

Breeding:
These birds breed in October-June. They nest in a cup made of plant fibres but there is no further information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common but patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Saffron finch

Sicalis flaveola

Photo by Claudio Marcio (Flickr)

Common name:
saffron finch (en); canário-da-terra-verdadeiro (pt); sicale bouton-d'or (fr); chirigüe azafranado (es); safranammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species occur in three disjunct areas in South America. The subspecies S.f. flaveola is found in Colombia, northern Venezuela and along coastal areas of the Guianas and Trinidad. S. f. valida in found in southern Ecuador and north-western Peru. The subspecies S.f. brasiliensis, S. f. pelzelni and S.f. koenigi are found from Maranhão in eastern Brazil, south to Uruguay and northern Argentina and west to Paraguay and Bolivia. The saffron finch has also been introduced to Panama, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands.

Size:
These birds are 13,5-15 cm long and weigh 12-23 g.

Habitat:
The saffron finch is found in a wide range of habitats, mainly dry tropical scrublands with scattered trees, but also open dry forests, moist scrublands, second growths, rural gardens, arable land and urban areas.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, mainly taking seeds but also some small arthropods.

Breeding:
Saffron finches breed in April-February, varying among different parts of their range. They nest in a cup made of plant fibres, which can be placed in variety of places, from holes in trees or bamboos, to epiphytes, holes in buildings or even inside the skull of an ox. The female lays 3-5 light grey eggs with brown spots and blotches, which she incubates alone for 12-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-17 days after hatching, but only become fully independent about 2 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Lesser seed-finch

Oryzoborus angolensis

Photo by Dario Sanches (Flickr)

Common name:
lesser seed-finch (en); curió (pt); sporophile curio (fr); semillero curió (es); braunbauch-reisknacker (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found in South America, east of the Andes, from Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, southern Brazil and extreme north-eastern Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 10,5-13 cm long and weigh 11,5-16 g.

Habitat:
The lesser seed-finch is found in moist tropical forests and scrublands, particularly in forest clearing and along forests edges, also using second growths. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on grass seeds and insects, being known to glean grass seeds directly from the stems.

Breeding:
Lesser seed-finches can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. The nest is a deep cup made of fine grasses, where the female lays 1-3 greenish-white eggs with brown spots. The eggs are incubated are incubated for 12-13 days and the chicks fledge about 30 days after hatching. They reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat.

Cinereous warbling-finch

Poospiza cinerea

Photo by Jefferson Silva (Focusing on Wildlife)

Common name:
cinereous warbling-finch (en); capacetinho-cinza (pt); chipiu à tête cendrée (fr); monterita cabeza negra (es); graukopf-ammerfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to south-eastern Brazil, and currently only found in a few scattered locations in Minas Gerais, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and weigh8,5-15 g.

Habitat:
The cinereous warbling-finch is found in cerrado habitats, including dry grasslands and dry savannas, at altitudes of 600-1.400 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and seeds.

Breeding:
These birds breed in October-December. The nest is a cup made of dry grasses, small roots and twigs, placed in a fork in a tree about 3 m above the ground. The female lays 3 light cream eggs with reddish-brown spots. There is no inforation regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively large, but fragmented breeding range. The global population is estimated at 6.000-15.000 individuals. The population was believed to be declining rapidly due to current rates of habitat loss, but new data suggests they are tolerant to degraded areas, so the suspected declines may have to be revised. Within their range natural habitats are being degraded and destroyed through grazing, invasive grasses, annual burning and conversion to agriculture for Eucalyptus plantations, soy bean and pastures for exportable crops, with two thirds of the cerrado region having been moderately to heavily altered in the last century, especially since the 1950s. This species suffers from brood-parasitism by shiny cowbirds Molothrus bonariensis, which will presumably increase with conversion to pastures.

Rufous-backed Inca-finch

Incaspiza personata

Photo by Jacques Erard (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rufous-backed Inca-finch (en); escrevedeira-inca-de-dorso-ruivo (pt); chipiu costumé (fr); semillero inca de lomo rufo (es); schwarzstirnammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to north-western Peru, being found from southern Cajamarca south to western Huanaco.

Size:
These birds are 16,5-18 cm long and weigh 30-33 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-backed Inca-finch is found in dry, high-altitude scrublands with cacti, agave and Puya raimondii. They occur at altitudes of 1.800-3.000 m, and occasionally up to 4.000 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, alone or in pairs, but there is no available information on diet.

Breeding:
These birds breed in March-June. There is no further information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Crested bunting

Melophus lathami

Photo by Sharad Agrawal (India Nature Watch)

Common name:
crested bunting (en); escrevedeira-de-poupa (pt); bruant huppé (fr); escribano crestado (es); haubenammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found from southern China, northern Vietnam, northern Laos and north-western Thailand, west to Nepal, central and north-western India, and northern Pakistan.

Size:
These birds are 16 cm long and weigh 20-26 g.

Habitat:
The crested bunting is found in dry grasslands, rocky outcrops and hillsides, terraced arable land, and dry scrublands.

Diet:
They feed mainly on small grass seeds of various kinds, including fallen grains and some weed seeds, but also hunt some insects.

Breeding:
Crested buntings breed in April-August, usually coinciding with the local rainy season. The nest is a shallow cup made of grass roots, grasses and moss, either unlined or lined with fine grasses, plant fibres, rootlets, moss and hair. The female lays 3-4 pale greenish-white to greyish eggs with red, brown and purple spots and blotches. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as generally fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Many-coloured Chaco-finch

Saltatricula multicolor

Photo by Victor Merlino (Ecoregistros)

Common name:
many-coloured Chaco-finch (en); bico-de-pimenta-chaquenho (pt); saltatricule du Chaco (fr); pepitero chico (es); vielfarbenammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found from south-eastern Bolivia and western Paraguay  south to northern Argentina, Uruguay and marginally into south-western Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 20-25 g.

Habitat:
This species is mostly found in dry scrublands, but also uses dry tropical forests from sea level up to an altitude of 600 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on grass seeds but are also known to feed faculatively on sap released from drillings of the white-fronted woodpecker Melanerpes cactorum.

Breeding:
The many-coloured Chaco-finch breed in October-March. They nest in an open cup made of grass and scrub stems, lined with feathers, plant fibres and hair. The nest is placed 1-2 m above the ground in a small tree or scrub. The female lays 3-4 eggs which are incubated for 14 days. The chicks fledge 8 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to the likelihood of ongoing habitat destruction.

Coal-crested finch

Charitospiza eucosma

Photo by Tancredo Maia (Flickr)

Common name:
coal-crested finch (en); mineirinho (pt); charitospize charbonnier (fr); monterita crestada (es); weißwangen-zwergkardinal (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed across north-eastern and central Brazil, in central Piauí, southern Maranhão and south-eastern Pará south through Goiás, western Bahia and central Minas Gerais to south-eastern Mato Grosso and central São Paulo. Also in north-eastern Bolivia, in Serranía de Huanchaca in Santa Cruz, and north-eastern Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 11-11,5 cm long and weigh 10-12 g.

Habitat:
The coal-crested finch is mostly found in cerrado dry savannas, also using savanna-grasslands transition habitatsand semi-open arid caatinga scrublands. They specialize in recently burned areas. This species is present at altitudes of 200-1.200 m.

Diet:
They are omnivorous, mainly eating grass seeds and arthropods, but also fruits and flowers. They are known to consume grasses such as Echinolaena inflexa, Trachypogon spp. and Aristida spp. and the introduced Andropogon gayanus, as well as grasshoppers, crickets, ants, termites and insect eggs.

Breeding:
Coal-crested finches are socially monogamous, although there are some cases of polygyny. They ave two breeding seasons, responding to the local rainy seasons, in September-December and February-April. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of an open cup made of dry grasses, small twigs, spider webs, fine roots and silk cotton. It is placed in a tree, 1-4 m above the ground. The female lays 1-3 pale blue-green eggs with brown spots, which she incubates alone for 10-12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively large but patchy breeding range. Although the global population size has not been quantified, this species is described as uncommon and patchily distributed, and suspected to be declining at a slow to moderate rate. The main threat is habitat loss through conversion to agriculture for Eucalyptus plantations, soy beans and pastures for exportable crops, which is encouraged by government land reform and has had a severe impact on the cerrado habitats in Brazil. They are also trapped for the cage bird trade.

Large tree-finch

Camarhynchus psittacula

Photo by Ruben Heleno (Charles Darwin Foundation)

Common name:
large tree-finch (en); tentilhão-de-Darwin-papagaio (pt); géospize psittacin (fr); pinzón de Darwin lorito (es); papageischnabel-Darwinfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, being found in Isabela, Santa Cruz, Santa Fé, Fernandina, Santiago, Floreana, Marchena, Pinta and Rábida. It is extinct on Pinzón.

Size:
These birds are13 cm long and weigh 15-21 g.

Habitat:
The large tree-finch is mostly found in moist tropical forests but also uses dry tropical forests and occasionally area dominated by scrubs and Opuntia cacti. They are present at altitudes of 300-700 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt arthropods but also take fruits, including cactus fruits, flowers and seeds.

Breeding:
Large tree-finches are monogamous and pair for life. They breed during the local wet season, in December-June. The male builds the nest, a small some-shaped structure with a side entrance near the top, made of dry grasses, moss and lichens. the female lays 3-4 whitish eggs with dark spots, which she incubates alone for about 12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and is described as common to uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Red-crested finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

Photo by Dario Sanches (Wikipedia)

Common name:
red-crested finch (en); tico-tico-rei (pt); araguira rougeâtre (fr); brasita de fuego(es); haubenkronfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This South American species is found from northern Argentina north to central Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, also with isolated populations in northern Brazil and the Guyanas.

Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh 14-22 g.

Habitat:
The red-crested finch is mostly found in dry tropical scrublands, also using tropical forests, second growths, pastures and arable land. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.600 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, taking seeds, fruits and invertebrates.

Breeding:
Red-crested finches breed in a shallow cup made of plant fibres and lined with animal hairs, placed in a fork 3-12 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 white to buff eggs with a few brown spots, which she incubates alone for 11-15 days. The chicks fledge 11-14 days after hatching, but are not yet able to fly. They continue to be fed by the male and only become independent 3-4 weeks later. Each pair can raise 2-3 clutches per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is species is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. In fact, they are known to adapt easily to degraded habitats.

White-bridled finch

Melanodera melanodera

Photo by Laurent Demongin (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-bridled finch (en); escrevedeira-de-sobrolho-branco (pt); mélanodère à sourcils blancs (fr); yal cejiblanco (es); schwarzkehl-ammerfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Argentina, from Santa Cruz to Tierra de Fuego, as well as in southern Magellanes in southern Chile and in the Falkland Islands.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 25-35 g.

Habitat:
The white-bridled finch is found in dry grasslands and pastures, often near human settlements. On the Falklands they also use grass-heath habitats.

Diet:
They feed on a wide variety of seeds.

Breeding:
White-bridled finches breed in September-February. The nest is made of fine grass and hidden amongst dense ground vegetation or in crevices. The female lays 3-4 blue-grey or grey-green eggs withpurple-brown markings. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range but is described as uncommon. The population on the Falklands is estimated at 7.000-14.000 breeding pairs. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat degradation caused by over-grazing

Pale-headed brush-finch

Atlapetes pallidiceps

Photo by A. Sornoza (American Bird Conservancy)

Common name:
pale-headed brush-finch (en); tico-tico-cinzento (pt); tohi grisonnant (fr); saltón cabecipálido (es); blasskopf-buschammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to southern Ecuador, only being found in the río Jubones drainage, in Azuay and Loja.

Size:
These birds are16-16,5 cm long and weigh 28,5-35 g.

Habitat:
The pale-headed brush-finch is mostly found in regenerating landslides and other steep slopes with dense scrubland interspersed with small clearings, usually in the transition between arid and humid areas. They are only present at altitudes of 1.650-1.950 m.

Diet:
They feed on a variety of invertebrates, especially caterpillars and winged insects, also taking seeds and fruits of plants such as Acnistus, Rubus, Acalypha, Solanum, Morus, Heliotropium, Polygonum, grass, and also flower buds.

Breeding:
Pale-headed brush-finches breed in January-June. They form stable pairs that remain together all year. The nest is built by the female, consisting of an open cup made of grasses and bamboo, placed near the ground, occasionally up to 3 m above the ground, in a scrub, small tree or bamboo thicket. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 11-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-14 days after hatching, but continue to be fed for another 2 months and often remain with the parents for nearly a year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has an extremely small breeding range and the global population appears to number just 226 individuals. The pale-headed brush-finch was believed to be extinct since the 1960s, but was rediscovered in 1998. Since then the population seems to be increasing rapidly, from as little as 20 individuals to over 200, but it may reach carrying capacity soon. The main threats affecting this species are habitat loss and brood parasitism by shiny cowbirds Molothrus bonariensis. Conservation actions underway included the purchase and fencing of the few remaining patches of suitable habitat and cowbird control. A habitat management scheme was implemented in order to halt vegetation succession and create suitable habitat by selective thinning of dense thickets, which seems to have been quite successful.

Snow bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Photo by David Beadle (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
snow bunting (en); escrevedeira-das-neves (pt); plectrophane des neiges (fr); escribano nival (es); schneeammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species breeds throughout the northernmost parts of Europe, Asia and North America, from Iceland and Scandinavia to northern Siberia and Kamchatka, in Alaska and northern Canada and along the western and southern coast of Greenland. They migrate south to winter as far south as England, northern France, Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan, northern China, northern Japan and Colorado and Virginia in the United States. Some population in Alaska and Iceland are resident.

Size:
These birds are 15-19 cm long and have a wingspan of 30-33 cm. They weigh 30-46 g.

Habitat:
They breed in tundra grasslands and rocky areas such as boulder fields or sea cliffs near vegetated areas. Outside the breeding season the snow bunting they are are found in coastal areas, along lake shores, saltmarshes, and also in tundra grasslands and agricultural areas.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, taking the seeds of various grasses, weed and sedges, buds and also insects, spiders and small marine crustaceans.

Breeding:
Snow buntings are monogamous and breed in May-July. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a thick-walled cup made of moss and grass, lined with fine grasses, rootlets, fur and feathers. It is placed in a rock cavity or crack, or in some cases in human-made sites, including buildings, rubble, barrels, boxes and metal cans. The female lays 2-7 creamy-white eggs with brown spots, which she incubates alone for 10-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-15 days after hatching, but continue to receive food from the parents for another 8-12 days. In Arctic regions each pair raises a single brood per season, but they may raise 2 broods in more southern areas.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population estimated to be over 40 million individuals. The population is North America has undergone a large decline of over 20% per decade over the last 4 decades. The reasons for this decline are unknown, but may be linked to a shift in the species’ distribution as a result of climate change. The use of pesticides may pose a threat to snow buntings in some parts of their range.

Vegetarian finch

Platyspiza crassirostris

Photo by J. Podos (U. Mass. Amherst)

Common name:
vegetarian finch (en); tentilhão-de-Darwin-vegetariano (pt); géospiza crassirostre (fr); pinzón vegetariano (es); dickschnabel-Darwinfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Galapagos islands, where it is currently found in the islands of San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Floreana, Isabela, Marchena, Santiago, Pinta and Fernandina. In the past it also occured on the islands if Pinzón and Santa Fé, but it is now extinct there.

Size:
These birds are 16 cm long and weigh 30-40 g.

Habitat:
The vegetarian finch is mostly found in tropical evergreen forests, both in dry and moist areas, being more common at middle altitude but occurring from sea level up to an altitude of 500 m.

Diet:
They feed almost entirely on plant matter, including buds, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, although a few insects may occasionally be taken.

Breeding:
Vegetarian finches breed during the local wet season. They are mostly monogamous and the nest is a dome-shaped structure with a side entrance, made of dry grass and placed on a cactus or scrub. The female lays 3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks fledge 2 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range, but is described as fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Yellow-faced grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Photo by Astrid Kant (Dutch Birding)

Common name:
yellow-faced grassquit (en); cigarra-de-faces-douradas (pt); sporophile grand-chanteur (fr); semillero tomeguín (es); goldbrauen-gimpelfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found from western and southern Mexico, through Central America and into Colombia, northern Ecuador and north-western Venezuela. They are also found in the northern Caribbean, in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 6-10 g.

Habitat:
The yellow-faced grassquit is mostly found in dry grasslands and moist scrublands, but also uses dry scrublands, high-altitude grasslands and scrublands, pastures, forests edges, road sides, second growths and overgrown gardens and lawns. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.300 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the seeds of various grasses, particularly Paspalum sp., Digitaria adscendens, Eragrostris sp., and Panicum sp. When seeds are scarce they also feed on berries, insects, nectar and the white protein bodies found on the base of the petioles of Cecropia trees.

Breeding:
Yellow-faced grassquits breed in May-January. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a
domed structure with thick walls and a side entrance, made of straw, grass blades, and weed stems, and lined with fine pieces of grass inflorescences or shredded fibres. It is placed in a grass tussock or low scrub, up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 white eggs with brown speckles, which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, but there is no information on the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 0,5-5 million individuals. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing deforestation is creating new areas of suitable habitat for the yellow-faced grassquit.

Harris's sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

Photo by Mike Ross (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Harris's sparrow (en); escrevedeira-de-Harris (pt); bruant à face noire (fr); chingolo de Harris (es); Harris-ammer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species breeds in northern Canada, in the Northern Territories, Nunavut, northern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba and northern Ontario. They migrate south to winter in the central United States, from South Dakota and Minnesota to Texas, and also in northern Mexico.

Size:
These birds are 17-20 cm long and have a wingspan of 27 cm. They weigh 26-49 g.

Habitat:
They breed in tundra scrublands and grasslands, and along the edges of boreal forests, using temperate grasslands, scrublands and rural gardens outside the breeding season.

Diet:
They feed on seeds, fruits, arthropods, and young conifer needles.

Breeding:
Harris's sparrows breed in May-August. They are monogamous and the nest is an open cup of mosses, small twigs, and lichens, lined with dried grass and often some caribou hair. It is placed on the ground, sometimes under a low scrub. There the female lays 3-5 pale green eggs with darker spots and blotches. The female incubates the eggs alone for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 8-10 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 2 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated is estimated at 3,7 million individuals. The population has undergone a small decline over the last 4 decades, but is not threatened.

Cinnamon warbling-finch

Poospiza ornata

Photo by Federico Villegas (Ecoregistros)

Common name:
cinnamon warbling-finch (en); capacetinho-canela (pt); chipiu cannelle (fr); monterita canela (es); schmuckammerfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species in endemic to Argentina, being found in the eastern part of the country from the provinces of Salta and Catamarca to Neuquén, Río Negro and southern Buenos Aires.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and weigh 10-15 g.

Habitat:
The cinnamon warbling-finch is mostly found in dry woodlands and scrublands, also using pastures and arable land. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They are mainly granivorous, eating the seeds of various grasses and forbs such as Setaria leucophylla, Sporobolus cryptandrus and Chenopodium papulosum. During the spring they supplement their diet with some arthropods and fruits.

Breeding:
Cinnamon warbling-finches breed in November-January. They nest in an open cup nests made of grass and forb stems, hairy achenes of composites, spider oothecas and silk. It is lined with thin vegetable fibres and placed on the grass among grasses and scrubs. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 10 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 8-9 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon to fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. The cinnamon warbling-finch may be highly sensitive to human activities that affect both vegetation cover and food abundance, also being negatively affected by droughts.

Slaty flowerpiercer

Diglossa plumbea

Photo by Jerry Oldenettel (Wikipedia)

Common name:
slaty flowerpiercer (en); fura-flor-ardósia (pt); percefleur ardoisé (fr); pinchaflor plomizo (es); einfarb-hakenschnabel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found in the mountain ranges of central Costa Rica and western Panama.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 9 g.

Habitat:
The slaty flowerpiercer is mostly found in high-altitude moist tropical scrublands, but also in in clearing and along the edges of mountain tropical forests, second growths and arable land. They are present at altitudes of 1.200-3.300 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the nectar of various scrubs and epiphytes, namely Ericaceae. Unlike hummingbirds and other nectar feeders, they piercing the base of the flower to get to the nectar, thus not pollinating the plants in most cases. They also catch small insects among the foliage, namely flies, wasps, beetles and caterpillars.

Breeding:
Slaty flowerpiercers breed in August-March. The nest is a large cup made of moss, dead leaves and other coarse plant fibres, and lined with finer fibres. It is placed in a dense scrub, up to 4 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 pale blue eggs with brown speckles, which she incubated for 12-14 days. The is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small and patchy breeding range but is described as common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and their mountainous distribution suggests they could suffer impacts from climate change in the future. Despite this, the slaty flowerpiercer is not considered threatened at present.