Volatinia jacarina
The Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) is a small, compact passerine known for its striking sexual dimorphism and characteristic 'bouncing' aerial display. Males are entirely glossy, iridescent blue-black, often appearing jet black in poor light, with a small, often concealed, white patch at the base of the primaries visible only in flight or during specific displays. Females, in stark contrast, are a dull, streaky brown on their upperparts and buffy-white with dusky streaking on their...
This adaptable species thrives in open, grassy habitats, including savannas, pastures, agricultural fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas, typically from sea level up to 2000 meters in elevation.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on a wide variety of small grass seeds, supplemented by some insects.
Blue-black Grassquits are diurnal and highly active, with males notably spending much of their day performing a distinctive 'bouncing' aerial display, leaping one to two feet into the air, singing, and returning to the same perch, sometimes thousands of times daily. Foraging primarily involves gl...
The Blue-black Grassquit boasts an extensive distribution throughout the Neotropics, extending from Mexico southwards through Central America and across much of South America. Its northern breeding limits reach Sonora and Tamaulipas in Mexico, and it is a year-round resident throughout all Centra...
Least Concern
- Males are famous for their unique 'bouncing' display, leaping straight up into the air while singing, a behavior they may repeat thousands of times a day. - Despite its common name 'grassquit' and sparrow-like appearance, it is a member of the tanager family (Thraupidae). - The male's iridescen...