Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus unicolor)

Identification & Behavior: ~14.5 cm (5.7 in). The male Plumbeous Sierra-Finch is uniform lead gray. The female brown above and pale below heavily streaked with black. It forages on the ground in open areas with scattered shrubs and bushes. It is similar to the Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch but is distinguished by larger size, chunkier body, uniformly lead gray underparts without a faint pale eyebrow.  The female is heavily streaked above and below. Also, see Short-tailed Finch and a female Band-tailed Sierra-Finch.

Status: The Plumbeous Sierra-Finch common and widespread on the west slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 3000-14700 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Fringilo Plomizo.

Sub-species: Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus unicolor geospizopsis), (Bonaparte), 1853.  Andes of C & S Colombia (C & E ranges), Ecuador and N Peru.
(Phrygilus unicolor inca), J. T. Zimmer, 1929.  Peru S to W Bolivia (La Paz).
(Phrygilus unicolor unicolor), (d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye), 1837.  Chile (Arica–Parinacota S to Magallanes) and W Argentina (Mendoza S to Santa Cruz).

Meaning of Name: Phrygilus: Gr. phrugilos= unidentified bird mentioned by Aristophanes, perhaps some sort of finch or sparrow. unicolor: L. uni, unus= single, one and coloris= colour. unicolor= plain, uniform, of one colour.

See more of the Family Thraupidae