Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster)

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae IUCN Status: Least Concern

golden-bellied_grosbeak
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Oxapampa, Junin

golden-bellied_grosbeak
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Santa Eulalia, Lima

golden-bellied_grosbeak
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. SW Ecuador

golden-bellied_grosbeak
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Huaraz, Ancash


Identification & Behavior: ~21 cm (8.2 in). The male Golden Grosbeak is mostly bright yellow with black and white wings and tail. The female has gray upperparts with white wing bars and gray tail. The rest of the body is dull yellow with gray specks and streaks on the head and neck.  It is similar to the closely related Black-backed Grosbeak but is distinguished by having a pure yellow head (male) or specckled with gray (female). and by favoring drier habitats. Also see White-edged Oriole.

Status: The Golden Grosbeak is fairly common in a variety of xeric habitats from the coastal lowlands up to 3500 m on the west slope of the Andes. It also occurs in the Marañon Valley and similar habitats in inter-Andean Valleys. The Golden Grosbeak also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Picogrueso de Vientre Dorado.

Sub-species: Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster chrysogaster), (Lesson), 1832.

Meaning of Name: Pheucticus: Gr. Pheugo= to flee, pheuktikos shy, inclined to avoid. chrysogaster: Gr. Khrusos= gold and gaster, gastros= belly.

See more of the Family Cardinalidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
golden-bellied_grosbeakVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2016.