Black-headed Brushfinch
Arremon atricapillus
The black-headed brushfinch is about 19 cm (7.5 in) long and weighs about 49.5 g (1.7 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have an almost entirely black head with a white throat. Their upperparts, wings, and tail are olive-green. The white of the throat continues through the breast and belly. The sides of their breast are gray and their flanks and vent are grayish olive. They have a dark chestnut-brown iris, a black bill, and blackish legs and feet. Juveniles have a greenish olive head and upperparts, dull brown wings and tail, and tawny underparts. Subspecies A. a. Voice: The black-headed brushfinch's song is "a high-pitched series of rambling notes which proceed without breaks" and its call is "a sharp note".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sierra Nevada Brushfinch
Arremon basilicus
The Sierra Nevada brushfinch is about 19 cm (7.5 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a black crown with a gray stripe in the middle, a gray supercilium that extends to the nape and continues behind the ear coverts. The rest of their face is black. Their upperparts, wings, and tail are olive-green. Their throat is white with a narrow black band below it. The center of their breast and belly is white and their sides, flanks, and vent are brownish olive. They have a dark chestnut-brown iris, a black bill, and blackish legs and feet. Voice: The Sierra Nevada brushfinch's song is "a high-pitched sibilant series of notes...with very fast delivery and almost nervous sound, this due also to inclusion of some quavering high-pitched whistles". Its call is "a sharp note".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-headed Brushfinch and Sierra Nevada Brushfinch.