Buff-bridled Inca-Finch Incaspiza laeta Scientific name definitions

The Buff-bridled Inca-finch is one of several distinctive, well-patterned, earth-toned songbirds that live in the Maranon River Valley of Peru.  Formerly considered to be in the Emberizidae with the New World sparrows, recent molecular evidence shows that the Inca-finches should be grouped with the tanagers of the American tropics and near tropics.  Found in sparse woodland with thorny undergrowth from 1500-3000 meters in elevation, Buff-bridled Inca-finch forages on seeds and insects on or near the ground. This species is rufous above and gray and buff below with brown and gray wings, a black chin and loral patch, obvious buff malar, yellow-orange bill, and black tail with white outer rectrices.

14·5 cm; 19·5–23·5 g. A longish-tailed finch with slim, pointed bill. Has grey head and nape; blackish mask extending broadly to forehead and covering much of face, including area behind and below eye, and throat; large pale buff spot in lower malar area; mantle, back and scapulars rufous, becoming greyish on rump and uppertail-coverts; tail black with white outer edges; upperwing looks largely grey, with browner-edged tertials; underparts grey on breast, contrasting noticeably with buff belly and flanks, vent off-white; iris dark brown; bill bright orange-yellow; legs orange-yellow. Sexes very similar, the female somewhat duller, the crown and nape tinged with earth-brown. Immature is duller than adult, lacks black on face and throat, is streaked above and below, bill dull yellow with dark culmen, legs dull yellow.

Upper Marañón Valley in S Cajamarca, SW Amazonas, E La Libertad and adjacent NE Ancash, in NW Peru.

Dry woodland with Bombax trees, cacti and thorn-scrub; 1000–2750 m.

Song unrecorded. Call a high “tseet”, often repeated; gives dry rasping, scold like that of a wren (Troglodytidae) when annoyed.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.