Oleaginous Hemispingus Sphenopsis frontalis Scientific name definitions

The Oleaginous Hemispingus is a rather dull-colored member of its genus, predominantly dull yellow below and olive-green above, with a poorly marked yellowish supercilium, although this is more obvious in the Venezuelan races, especially those farthest from the main Andean chain. In a sense, it is well named; oleaginous—having the property or appearance of oil—is derived from olive, and this species is most certainly largely olive-colored. It is most liable to be confused with one of the smaller and finer-billed Basileuterus warblers, or the Superciliaried Hemispingus (Hemispingus superciliaris), which, as its name suggests, has a much more obvious supercilium. Its habits and behavior are typical of the genus as a whole.

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 eye); crown and entire upperparts, including upperwing-coverts and tail, dull dirty olive, flight-feathers narrowly edged cinnamon; dingy olive-yellow below, more olive on sides, tinged cinnamon on undertail-coverts; iris dark brown; bill dusky grey; legs pale brownish to brownish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile lacks supercilium, is even duller and dingier than adult; immature like adult but duller. N races differ from nominate in generally brighter coloration: hanieli has brighter and more pronounced yellow supercilium, and is more yellow-ochre below; iterata differs from previous in having supercilium and throat tinged rich buff to orange-buff; ignobilis has greenish-yellow supercilium, with pale buffy throat better demarcated from breast than in other races; flavidorsalis has more olive upperparts, flight-feathers edged olive-green, and supercilium and throat with buff-yellow tinge.

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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.

Mostly interior of humid montane forest, especially in thicker vegetation, vine tangles and dense shrubbery; less frequently at forest borders. At 1400–2900 m in Venezuela; 1500–2700 m in Colombia; mostly 1500–2600 m in Ecuador and Peru.

Resident.

Arthropods. Forages in pairs, in family parties and in compact groups of c. 4–8 individuals, accompanying (sometimes as dominant species) understorey mixed flocks. Industrious dead-leaf specialist; groups work through undergrowth or slightly higher, especially in vines and cluttered areas, flying a few metres at a time, hopping up branches in rather jerky manner while constantly flicking tail and peering at foliage, or, more often, fly or hop directly to clumps of curled, hanging dead leaves and inspect these by clinging, hanging upside-down or stretching down to peer into clump. Forages also on live green leaves, sometimes alternating between dead and live surfaces.

Song, by pair, trio or quartet (occasionally quintet) of foraging birds in early morning, more or less simultaneously by group-members at intervals of c. 15 seconds: one individual (same one each time?) starts, others immediately join in with identical songs sounding slightly out of sync, producing vibrating chorus lasting c. 5 seconds, each bird singing chattery stream of high-pitched “chipa’chipa’ chip-chit’chit’chit’chit’it’it’it...”, accelerating, then slowing. Rather quiet during day. Soft “chit” notes during foraging.

Seven breeding-condition birds Jun–Nov in NW Venezuela (Perijá Mts) and N part of E Andes in Colombia; juvenile in Apr in C Peru (Junín). Eggs reportedly white. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout range. Found in numerous protected sites in much of range, although increasing human settlement and deforestation may place this species at risk elsewhere.