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Velvet-fronted Euphonia Euphonia concinna Scientific name definitions

Steven Hilty
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2011

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

The Velvet-fronted Euphonia is endemic to the environs of the upper Magdalena Valley in central Colombia, where it is a generally uncommon species in woodland and farmland with scattered trees, at elevations between 200 and 1000 m. The male rather recalls those of the Purple-throated Euphonia (Euphonia chlorotica), and the Trinidad Euphonia (Euphonia trinitatis), with largely blue-black to purple upperparts, and throat, with the rest of the underparts being yellow, washed ochraceous, while the forecrown patch is yellow, and reaches to just above the eye. The female is dull olive-colored above, becoming grayer on the nape, with dull yellow underparts, and a yellowish forecrown.

Field Identification

9 cm; 9–12 g. Small euphonia with small, stubby bill. Male has small yellow forecrown patch extending rearwards just to eye, bordered in front by narrow band of black over bill (difficult to see in field); other­wise head to foreneck and upperparts, including upperwing-coverts, blue-black with purplish gloss; tail blue-black, flight-feathers black, usually small white spot at base of outer primaries (amount of white variable, some­times absent); breast and lower underparts rich ochraceous to cinnamon-yellow; iris dark brown; bill pale bluish-grey with blackish culmen and tip; legs dark grey. Differs from similar E. chlorotica and E. trinitatis in having narrow black band across base of forehead and only small yellow patch on forecrown, also darker undertail with no white patches. Female has inconspicuous olive-yellow anterior superciliary stripe, with most of crown, ear-coverts and nape light olive-grey, becoming olive on rest of upperparts; uniformly dull yellowish, tinged olive, below. Immature apparently undescribed.

Systematics History

Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

WC Colombia, in upper Magdalena Valley from N Tolima (Honda) and adjacent Cundinamarca S to SW Huila (La Plata); recent record from middle Cauca Valley.

Habitat

Found in dry open and semi-open woodland, ranchland with scattered trees, fence rows with trees, and light woodland along streams. At 200–1000 m, and recorded locally to 1800 m in W Cundinamarca; principally in dry lower-elevation sites.

Movement

Resident. Limited observations suggest that pairs or families are sedentary, and not so apt to wander as do some other members of genus (e.g. E. trinitatis) that occur in dry semi-open areas.

Diet and Foraging

Small fruits and berries, especially mistletoe berries (Loranthaceae); probably some insects, too. Occurs in pairs or small family parties, most often seen apart from other species; less frequently loosely associated with a few other species. Like congeners, stays well up in trees and often feeds on mistletoe berries. Can be remarkably confiding and easy to see.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Frequently heard call, by either sex, a clear high “dee-dee” or “tee dee-dee”, much like that of many others of genus. Song, by male (possibly also female) a slightly gravelly and varied series of phrases, e.g. “p’wheeet-wheeet...pa’weet, whe’e’e’t, whe’e’e’t...pa’weet, p’bzrrrr, bzrrrr...”, the “wheeet” notes rising in pitch, sometimes slightly burry; “bzrrrr” notes buzzy or rattling.

Breeding

Three birds in breeding condition in Jan–Apr in upper Magdalena Valley. No other information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Colombian Inter-Andean Valleys EBA. Fairly common very locally. Recent record from middle Cauca Valley needs confirmation; possibly relates to an escaped cagebird. There are no parks or reserves within this species’ range, which does, however, include extensive scrub, ranchland, riverine woodland and dry semi-open areas which are at little risk of development and are apparently suitable for the requirements this species.
Distribution of the Velvet-fronted Euphonia - Range Map
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  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Velvet-fronted Euphonia

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Hilty, S. (2020). Velvet-fronted Euphonia (Euphonia concinna), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.vefeup1.01
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