Dusky-headed Brushfinch Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus Scientific name definitions

The Dusky-headed Brush-Finch is another Colombian endemic brush-finch. It is a dull colored one, in some ways resembling the juvenile of other species (such as the Moustached Brush-Finch), more than the adult of any other brush-finch. It is yellow on the underparts as is common in this genus, and dark olive above however the head is variably dark olive to nearly blackish, dusky is a good description really. There is no pale or colorful coronal stripe, but on the throat the yellow submoustachial stripe and yellow throat are divided by a narrow but distinct dark lateral throat stripe. This species is restricted to the upper Magdalena Valley and has a small range, but there it is common and therefore it is not listed in a category of conservation concern. It prefers humid forest edge, in shrubbery and understory, also low second growth and clearings with dense shrub component even overgrown pastures between the elevations of 1600 – 2400m. They are relatively arboreal for a brush-finch in their foraging strata.

17–18 cm; two males average 32·5 g. A dull-coloured brush-finch with distinctly graduated tail. Has crown down to lores, cheek and ear-coverts dusky olive, often nearing blackish on side of face, contrasting yellow submoustachial area, this in turn highlighted by narrow dark lateral throat stripe; nape and upperparts similarly olive-dusky, slightly brighter olive on rump, and upperwing and tail slightly darker, flight-feathers with fine olive edging; throat and underparts yellow, becoming olive-washed on breast and flanks; iris reddish to deep brown; bill black; legs dusky brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar to adult, but lacks blackish on face, is obscurely streaked below, and yellow submoustachial stripe is washed olive.

• White-naped x Dusky-headed Brushfinch (hybrid) Atlapetes albinucha x fuscoolivaceus

Upper Magdalena Valley (in Huila), in SW Colombia.

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.