Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

Identification & Behavior: ~11 cm (4.3 in). The male Orange-bellied Euphonia is glossy blue above and orange-yellow below. The head and throat are also glossy blue with a yellow crown. The bill is stubby. The wing has a middle white band. The tail feathers have extensive white webbing. The female is yellow-green above with a distinctive gray nape and washed yellow forehead. The underparts are gray bordered by yellow.  The similar Purple-throated Euphonia favors riparian habitats in the range these two Euphonias overlap. The Orange-crowned Euphonia has an extensive yellow-orange crown and dark tail and wing.

Status: The Orange-bellied Euphonia is the most common and widespread Euphonia in the canopy and edges of Amazonian forests where it ranges up to 2300 m along the foothill of the Andes. It is also rare in the humid forest of extreme northwest Peru in Tumbes. The Orange-bellied Euphonia also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Eufonia de Vientre Naranja.

Sub-species: Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster quitensis), (Nelson), 1912. W Ecuador (S from Pichincha) and NW Peru.
(Euphonia xanthogaster dilutior), J. T. Zimmer, 1943. SE Colombia and NE Peru (Ucayali Valley).
(Euphonia xanthogaster brunneifrons) Chapman, 1901. SE Peru (Cuzco and Puno).
(Euphonia xanthogaster brevirostris), Bonaparte, 1851. E Colombia to S to E Ecuador and E Peru (W of Ucayali Valley), E to NW Brazil.

Meaning of Name: Euphonia: Gr. eu= good and phōnē= voice. euphōneō to have a good voice.   Euphōnia= goodness of voice, excellence of tone, euphony. xanthogaster: Gr. Xanthos= yellow and gastēr,  gastros= belly.

See more of the Family Fringillidae