Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Order: Passeriformes Family: CardinalidaeIUCN Status: Least Concern

rose-breasted_grosbeak
Age: Adult, basic | Sex: Male | Loc. Eastern Andes, Colombia

rose-breasted_grosbeak
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Quito, Ecuador

rose-breasted_grosbeak
Age: Adult, alternate | Sex: Male | Loc. Eastern Andes, Colombia

rose-breasted_grosbeak
Age: Adult, basic | Sex: Female | Male | Loc. Eastern Andes, Colombia


Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in basic plumage has blackish-gray upperparts and tail with white wing bars, pale superciliary, and a pale rump. The breast is pink-red. The rest of the underparts are whitish with sparse dusky streaking. The female is a dull version of the male with a brownish tinge to the back and underparts. The immature is browner than a female without any hint of pink-red on the throat and upper breast. The bill is thick. The male in adult alternate plumage is unmistakable. The female and juvenile superficially resemble a  Saltator.

Status: The status of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is not well understood. There are only a few scattered sight records on this Boreal Migrant in humid montane forests of the east slope of the Andes generally around 1500 m. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Picogrueso de Pecho Rosado.

Sub-species: Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), (Linnaeus), 1766.

Meaning of Name: Pheucticus: Gr. Pheugo= to flee, pheuktikos shy, inclined to avoid.
ludovicianus: After the Louisiana Territory or colony claimed by France and named after Louis XIV King of France.

See more of the Family Cardinalidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
rose-breasted_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.