Euphonia gouldi
The Olive-backed Euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) is a striking, small songbird, measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4-4.3 inches) in length and weighing around 10-12 grams. Males are particularly vibrant, sporting a brilliant blue-black crown, nape, upper back, wings, and tail, sharply contrasting with an olive-green mantle and bright yellow throat and underparts. Females, in comparison, exhibit a more subdued, uniform olive-green plumage, with a hint of yellowish on the belly and vent, lacking the ...
Found in humid tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, and shaded plantations, typically from sea level up to 1500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for mistletoe berries, but also consumes a variety of other small fruits, supplemented with insects and spiders gleaned from foliage.
Olive-backed Euphonias are diurnal and highly arboreal, often observed foraging actively in pairs or small family groups, and occasionally joining mixed-species flocks in the canopy and subcanopy. Males assert territorial claims through persistent, sweet whistling songs delivered from prominent p...
The Olive-backed Euphonia is a resident species, distributed across a wide range in Central America. Its breeding and year-round distribution extends from southern Mexico, specifically in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas, southwards through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nic...
Least Concern
- Olive-backed Euphonias are highly specialized frugivores, playing a crucial role in the dispersal of mistletoe seeds, acting as the primary vector for their spread. - Despite their brilliant plumage, these birds can be surprisingly inconspicuous, often remaining high in the canopy, blending wit...