Santa Marta Brushfinch
Atlapetes melanocephalus
The Santa Marta Brushfinch (Atlapetes melanocephalus) is a rare new world sparrow found only in Colombia, weighing about 25 g. The Santa Marta brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows.
About the Santa Marta Brushfinch
The Santa Marta brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Santa Marta brushfinch is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs about 28 g (0.99 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly black head with a silvery gray patch on the ear coverts. Their upperparts are olive gray and their wings and tail are blackish with thin olive feather edges. Their throat and underparts are mostly lemon yellow with an olive wash on the flanks. They have a chestnut iris, a pale gray or black bill, and dusky pink legs and feet. Juveniles are duller and paler than adults. Voice: The Santa Marta brushfinch sings two or three loud sweet notes. In duet pairs sing "a lot of buzzy notes, bzt-bzt-bzt, bzbzbzbzbzzbz, speeding up and becoming louder towards end". Its calls are sharp tsip or chip notes.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Santa Marta Brushfinch can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Santa Marta Brushfinch?
- The Santa Marta brushfinch is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs about 28 g (0.99 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Santa Marta Brushfinch?
- The Santa Marta Brushfinch is a small sized bird weighing about 25 g.
- Where can you see a Santa Marta Brushfinch?
- The Santa Marta Brushfinch is endemic to Colombia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Santa Marta Brushfinch?
- The Santa Marta Brushfinch is most easily confused with the Rufous-capped Brushfinch, the White-winged Brushfinch and the Ochre-breasted Brushfinch.
- Is the Santa Marta Brushfinch endangered?
- The Santa Marta Brushfinch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Santa Marta Brushfinch for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.