Family Tanagers (Thraupidae)
Least Concern
Oleaginous Hemispingus (Sphenopsis frontalis)
Taxonomy
French: Tangara ocré German: Olivrücken-Finkentangare Spanish: Hemispingo oleaginoso
Taxonomy:
H[ylophilus]. frontalis
Tschudi
, 1844,east slope of Andes, Peru
.Has been suggested that race ignobilis might merit elevation to species rank, although in reality all four Venezuelan races differ fairly clearly from nominate, with variation possibly clinal, those farthest E (in NE Venezuela, hence farthest from Andes) differing the most. Review warranted. Five subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
S. f. flavidorsalis
(Phelps, Sr & Phelps, Jr, 1953) – Sierra de Perijá, in NW Venezuela (probably also on Colombian side).
S. f. hanieli
(Hellmayr & Seilern, 1914) – coastal range in N Venezuela (Aragua, Vargas, Distrito Federal and Miranda).
S. f. iterata
(Chapman, 1925) – mountains of NE Venezuela (Sucre and Monagas).
S. f. ignobilis
P. L. Sclater, 1862 – Andes of W Venezuela from Lara S to N Táchira.
S. f. frontalis
(Tschudi, 1844) – Colombia (W Andes of Antioquia, including E slope near Jardín, S very locally to Cauca; C & E Andes, including entire E slope of E range, patchily S of Cundinamarca), and Ecuador (E slope and locally in NW) and Peru S to C Cuzco.
Descriptive notes
14 cm; 14–20 g. Dingy, dull hemispingus with relatively slender bill. Nominate race has long, narrow, weakly indicated yellowish supercilium (most obvious in front of... read more
Voice
Song, by pair, trio or quartet (occasionally quintet) of foraging birds in early morning, more or... read more
Habitat
Mostly interior of humid montane forest, especially in thicker vegetation, vine tangles and dense... read more
Food and feeding
Arthropods. Forages in pairs, in family parties and in compact groups of c. 4–8 individuals, accompanying (sometimes as dominant... read more
Breeding
Seven breeding-condition birds Jun–Nov in NW Venezuela (Perijá Mts) and N part of E Andes in Colombia; juvenile in Apr in C... read more
Movements
Resident.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout range. Found in numerous protected sites in much of range, although increasing human settlement and deforestation may place... read more
Dutch Name
Olijfrughemispingus