Tricolored Brush-Finch (Atlapetes tricolor)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Tricolored Brush-Finch has dusky-gray upperparts and tail. The top of the head and underparts are dingy yellow. The sides of the head are dusky. It forages in the dense understory of montane forests, edges of tall montane scrub, and bamboo thickets. The Tricolored Brush-Finch is similar to Black-faced Brush-Finch but is distinguished by having dingy yellow underparts and top of the head. Also, see Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch and the very local Vilcabamba Brush-Finch.

Status: The Tricolored Brush-Finch is uncommon in montane forests and scrub of the east slope of the Andes. It generally ranges at elevations ranging between 1750-3050 m. The Tricolored Brush-Finch also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Matorralero Tricolor.

Sub-species: Tricolored Brush-Finch (Atlapetes tricolor tricolor), (Taczanowski), 1875.

Meaning of Name: Atlapetes: Gr. myth. Atlas, a Titan king who was changed into a mountain and petes= flier, to fly. tricolor: L. tri, tres = three and color, coloris= color.

See more of the Family Passerellidae