Rufous-sided Warbling Finch Poospizopsis hypochondria Scientific name definitions

The genus Poospiza appears to reach maximum diversity in the Andes of Bolivia and northwest Argentina, and the Rufous-sided Warbling Finch is confined to this region. This species is a high-elevation bird, found at altitudes between 2500 and 4000 m at least, where it inhabits shrubby arid hillsides and ravines. The Rufous-sided Warbling Finch is primarily, if not exclusively, arboreal, and it is usually observed in small groups. Generally a reasonably easily identified species, this warbling finch is principally grayish above, with a white supercilium and throat, with a dark malar stripe. The underparts are largely dingy, either grayish or buffy, but pale rufous flanks; the outer tail feathers are mainly white, and the wing feathers possess buffy fringes.

13·5–16·5 cm; 18–24·5 g. A relatively long-tailed warbling finch. Male nominate race is brownish-grey above , face greyer, long buff-white supercilium, narrow buff subocular crescent, broad buffish-white submoustachail stripe, narrow dark malar stripe; tail dark dusky brown, outer feather with entirely white outer web and white distal half of inner web, next two rectrices with decreasing amount of white on tip of inner web; upperwing largely brownish-grey, with buffy fringes and tips forming narrow wingbars; throat white, breast and upper flanks grey, lower flanks orange-rufous, lower breast, belly and vent buff; iris dark brown; bill grey, with blackish on upper mandible; legs blackish. Female is very like male, but marginally paler, separable only when sexes observed together. Juvenile is buffy brown above, supercilium before eye ochraceous buff, breast and belly ochraceous buff, becoming pale cinnamon ochraceous on flanks, with side of breast and flanks obscurely streaked; immature similar, but upperparts darker and browner, throat, breast and belly dark buff, greyish wash on side of breast. Race <em>affinis</em> is larger than nominate, more greyish on rump and buffier below , with more restricted white on outer tail feathers.

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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.

Song jumbled, sounding at times out of tune, and with very short stops between elements, “tch-zwe-ta-chp-zwe-ta-cshw-zwe-ta...”, less melodious and more hurried than that of many congeners. Call a high “zwee”.

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.