Chlorophonia cyanocephala
The Golden-rumped Euphonia (Chlorophonia cyanocephala) is a small, stout, and strikingly colorful passerine bird, renowned for its brilliant plumage and specialized diet. Measuring approximately 10-12 cm (4-4.7 inches) in length and weighing 12-18 grams, the male boasts an iridescent sky-blue crown and nape, contrasting sharply with a black face, throat, and mantle. Its most distinctive field marks are the vibrant golden-yellow rump and bright yellow underparts, offset by metallic green upper...
This euphonia primarily inhabits humid montane forests, forest edges, clearings with fruiting trees, and shade coffee plantations, typically found at elevations between 900 and 2,500 meters (3,000-8,200 feet).
Their diet consists predominantly of fruits, with a significant specialization on mistletoe berries (Phoradendron, Psittacanthus species), which they process uniquely to extract nutrition and excrete seeds efficiently. They also consume other small fruits and a limited number of small insects, pa...
Golden-rumped Euphonias are diurnal and highly active foragers, typically observed in pairs or small family groups, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. Their foraging strategy primarily involves carefully gleaning fruits, especially mistletoe berries, from arboreal perches. Males are highl...
The Golden-rumped Euphonia is a resident species distributed across a wide geographical area, extending from southern Mexico, through Central America, and into northern South America. In Mexico, it is found in the highlands of Chiapas and Oaxaca, continuing south through the montane regions of Gu...
Least Concern
- The Golden-rumped Euphonia is a 'mistletoe specialist,' with its digestive system uniquely adapted to process the sticky, toxic berries that are often avoided by other birds. - By consuming mistletoe berries and passing the seeds, they play a vital role in dispersing these parasitic plants, whi...