Páramo Seedeater (Catamenia homochroa)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.2 in). The male Paramo Seedeater is all dusky-gray with a pale pink bill. It has bright chestnut undertail coverts. The female is dark brown with a grayish head and faint dusky streaks on the upperparts. The bill is also light pink. The undertail coverts are dull chestnut. It forages in humid elfin forest and shrubbery as well as in humid paramo. It is similar to the Plain-colored Seedeater but is distinguished by a darker coloration and by favoring more humid habitats.

Status: The Paramo Seedeater generally rare near treeline habitats and paramo at elevations ranging between 2350-3600 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Semillero Paramero.

Sub-species: Páramo Seedeater (Catamenia homochroa homochroa), P. L. Sclater, 1859.

Meaning of Name: Catamenia: Gr. kata= in relation to and men, menos= month. Katamenia= menstrual, menstruous. homochroa: Gr. homos, homos= common, and khroas= colour, appearance, alike. Homokhrous= uniform, of one colour.

See more of the Family Thraupidae