Chlorophonia flavirostris
The Yellow-collared Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia flavirostris) is a strikingly vibrant songbird, a true gem of the Andean cloud forests. Measuring a diminutive 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing a mere 16-20 grams, this species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are resplendent with brilliant emerald-green upperparts, a distinctive bright yellow collar encircling the nape and sides of the neck, a contrasting blue crown and nape, and a yellow lower breast transitioning to...
Found primarily in humid montane and cloud forests, Yellow-collared Chlorophonias also inhabit forest edges, secondary growth, and shade coffee plantations, typically at elevations between 900 and 2400 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of small fruits, with a strong preference for mistletoe berries; supplements its diet with small insects by gleaning.
Yellow-collared Chlorophonias are primarily diurnal, spending most of their active hours foraging high in the dense canopy where their bright plumage can be surprisingly cryptic amidst the vibrant foliage. They typically forage by gleaning small fruits, especially the parasitic mistletoe berries,...
The Yellow-collared Chlorophonia is a resident species found exclusively in the Andean cordilleras of South America. Its breeding and year-round range extends from the Western, Central, and Eastern Andes of Colombia, southward through northern Ecuador, and into the extreme northern reaches of Per...
Least Concern
- Once considered a tanager, its taxonomic classification has shifted, highlighting its unique evolutionary path within the finch family (Fringillidae). - It is a specialist of the humid Andean cloud forests, typically found at elevations between 900 and 2400 meters, making it an altitudinal spec...