Sphenopsis frontalis
The Oleaginous Hemispingus, *Sphenopsis frontalis*, is a subtly handsome passerine of the South American Andes, belonging to the vibrant tanager family (Thraupidae). Measuring a compact 12.5-13.5 cm (5-5.3 in) and weighing 14-19 grams, its appearance is characterized by olive-green upperparts and dull yellowish-olive underparts, giving it its "oleaginous" descriptor. Its most distinctive field mark, and the source of its scientific name *frontalis*, is a striking rufous-chestnut forecrown, of...
Resident in montane cloud forests and humid evergreen forests, forest borders, and secondary growth, typically at elevations between 1,200 and 3,100 meters (3,900 to 10,200 feet).
Primarily insects (arthropods) gleaned from foliage and bark; occasionally small fruits.
The Oleaginous Hemispingus is a highly active diurnal species, dedicating much of its day to foraging. It employs a gleaning strategy, meticulously searching for arthropods among dense foliage, moss-laden branches, and twigs in the mid-story and lower canopy of montane forests. A defining charact...
The Oleaginous Hemispingus is a permanent resident throughout the Andes mountains of South America. Its range extends from extreme western Tachira state in Venezuela, south through all three Andean ranges in Colombia, and both slopes of the Andes throughout Ecuador. Further south, it occurs along...
Least Concern
- The species' common name "Oleaginous" refers to its soft, oily-green and yellowish plumage. - Its scientific epithet "frontalis" directly translates to "of the forehead," a clear nod to its diagnostic rufous-chestnut forecrown. - Despite its relatively subdued coloration compared to many flambo...