Olive-backed euphonia
Olive-backed euphonia | |
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Male E. g. praetermissa, Costa Rica | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Fringillidae |
Subfamily: | Euphoniinae |
Genus: | Euphonia |
Species: | E. gouldi
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Binomial name | |
Euphonia gouldi Sclater, PL, 1857
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The olive-backed euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama.
The olive-backed euphonia is found in wet forests, tall second growth and adjacent bushy clearings, typically from sea level to 750 m altitude, sometimes up to 1000 m. The spherical cup nest, with a side entrance, is hidden amongst epiphytes or mosses 2–11 m high in a tree. The normal clutch is three brown-marked white eggs.
The adult olive-backed euphonia is 9.5 cm long and weighs 12 g. The adult male has glossy olive upperparts, a yellow forehead, and a rufous belly surrounded by yellow. The adult female has less glossy upperparts than the male, a chestnut forehead, yellow underparts and a small rufous belly patch. Immatures are darker, duller, and have olive underparts.
The olive-backed euphonia occurs in small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. This species feeds mainly on small fruits.
The olive-backed euphonia's call is a metallic chrrr-chrrr, and the song is mixture of the call with clear or nasal whistles.
The scientific species name commemorates John Gould, the English ornithologist.
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Euphonia gouldi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22722750A137408287. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22722750A137408287.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4