Atlapetes crassus
The Choco Brushfinch (Atlapetes crassus) is a striking medium-sized sparrow-like bird, typically measuring about 17-18 cm (7 inches) in length and weighing 30-35 grams. Its most distinctive features are the bright rusty-rufous crown and nape, which contrast sharply with a broad black mask extending from the lores through the ear-coverts. A crisp white malar stripe frames the lower edge of the mask, while the upperparts are dark blackish-olive, and the underparts are whitish, often with a subt...
Found in humid montane cloud forests, forest borders, and dense secondary growth with ample understory, typically at elevations between 900 and 2000 meters.
Mainly insectivorous, primarily consuming insects and other arthropods, supplemented by small fruits or seeds from vegetation.
Primarily diurnal, the Choco Brushfinch spends its days actively foraging in the dense understory and mid-story vegetation. It typically forages by gleaning insects and other arthropods from leaves, branches, and often the forest floor, frequently joining small, mixed-species foraging flocks, tho...
The Choco Brushfinch is endemic to the humid montane cloud forests of the Chocó biogeographic region, primarily distributed along the Pacific slopes of the Western Andes. Its core range spans southwestern Colombia, from the departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño, extending south...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name Atlapetes crassus, where "crassus" means "thick" or "stout," likely refers to its relatively robust build compared to some other brushfinches. - Unlike many migratory songbirds, the Choco Brushfinch is a year-round resident, spending its entire life cycle within its limited ...