Golden Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysogaster Scientific name definitions

Alternatively known as the Southern Yellow Grosbeak, in reference to its former unification with the Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus) of Middle America, the Golden Grosbeak is found only in South America, where it ranges discontinuously from northeastern Venezuela to southernmost Peru. It overlaps in range with another ‘golden-bellied’ grosbeak, the Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris), which in contrast has a largely or entirely black head, according to sex. The Golden Grosbeak is usually a relatively abundant inhabitant of semi-open habitats, including forest borders, cultivated areas with trees, and scrub, and it occurs up to 3,000 meters elevation.

21·5 cm; 54–59·7 g (Peru). Male nominate race has head and nape deep yellow with orange tinge, back black, rump yellow, uppertail-coverts black with white tips; upperwing black, primaries with white bases (conspicuous white flash), secondaries with white tips on outer webs, tertials with much larger white tips , median and greater upperwing-coverts with broad white tips (prominent bars on closed wing); sometimes yellow shoulder patch; rectrices black, all except central two pairs with white on inner web and part of outer web; throat and underparts bright yellow, except for black thigh and white undertail-coverts; iris dark brown; upper mandible black, lower mandible bluish-grey; legs bluish-grey. Female has crown dull yellow, heavily streaked black, upperparts greenish-yellow, brightest on rump, with blackish streaks, shoulder dull grey-brown with greenish tinge; primary coverts and greater coverts dull blackish-grey, white tips to median and greater coverts; rectrices dull blackish-brown, small white tips on outermost feathers; chin to lower belly yellow, greenish-yellow on flanks, undertail-coverts dull white; bare parts as for male. Juvenile has crown, nape, ear-coverts, back and rump heavily marked with black streaks, white on tertials largely absent, white flash on primaries reduced, flanks with diffuse dark streaks. Race <em>laubmanni</em> is similar to nominate, but male has more extensive yellow fringes on interscapular feathers, scapulars narrowly edged dull olive-yellow on both webs, conspicuous white edgings on distal half of outer five primaries, female with same edgings on primaries, upperparts brighter yellow than nominate.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open woodland, forest edge, areas of scattered trees, brushland; mostly fairly arid habitats, but in Peru also in more humid areas. In Ecuador, common in some human-dominated habitats. Mostly 1,500–2,500 m elevation in Venezuela and Colombia; to 3,500 m in Ecuador and Peru, though down almost to sea-level in arid southwestern Ecuador.

Song a rich carolling, similar to that of the Highland Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) [lutea Group] but sweeter, shorter phrases with more slurred notes. Call a sharp squeaky “pink”.