Poospiza nigrorufa
The Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch (Poospiza nigrorufa) is a captivating passerine, measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 15-20 grams. Its striking plumage features a contrasting black head and throat, offset by a prominent white supercilium and a broad rufous band across the breast and flanks. The underparts transition to a clean white belly, while the back and wings are a muted olive-grey. These distinct markings make it relatively easy to identify...
This specialized warbling-finch primarily inhabits tall grasslands, shrublands, and the edges of marshes and chaco forests, typically found at low to moderate elevations, often near water sources.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, including small beetles, caterpillars, and other arthropods, supplemented with a variety of small seeds gleaned from grasses and low-lying plants.
The Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch is generally diurnal, spending its days actively foraging and defending its territory. It primarily forages on the ground or in low vegetation, meticulously searching for insects and seeds among the grasses and shrubs. Territorial behavior is marked by vocaliza...
The Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch has a restricted and fragmented distribution across east-central South America. Its primary breeding range extends through northeastern Argentina, southern Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia, and southwestern Brazil, particularly in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul...
Near Threatened
- Despite its name, the Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch is classified within the tanager family (Thraupidae), not as a true finch (Fringillidae). - Its striking plumage, with a black head and bright rufous breast, makes it one of the more visually distinctive Poospiza species. - The species is a ...