Golden-rumped Euphonia (Euphonia cyanocephala)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5 cm (4.5 in). The male Golden-rumped Euphonia has a glossy blue back. The top of the head and nape are blue. The face and throat are black. The underparts and rump are orange-yellow. The tail and wing are dark. The female is yellow-green overall with a blue top of the head and narrow rufous forehead and superciliary. It favors semi-deciduous forests as well as humid montane forests where appears to be associated with parasitic mistletoes. It is superficially similar to the Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia in having a blue top of the head. Also, see Fawn-breasted Tanager.

Status: The Golden-rumped Euphonia is uncommon in the semi-deciduous forest and scrub in the Marañon Drainage. It also occurs in some inter-Andean valleys and along the east slope of the Andean at elevations ranging between 1300 – 2600 m. It also occurs in the Pampas del Heath, and on the foothills of the Andes in extreme southeast Peru. The Golden-rumped Euphonia also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Eufonia de Lomo Dorado.

Sub-species: Golden-rumped Euphonia (Euphonia cyanocephala cyanocephala), Vieillot, 1819.

Meaning of Name: Euphonia: Gr. eu= good and phōnē= voice. Euphōnia= goodness of voice, excellence of tone. cyanocephala: Gr. Kuanos=  dark-blue and kephalos= headed.

See more of the Family Fringillidae