Tiaris olivaceus
The Yellow-faced Grassquit, *Tiaris olivaceus*, is a diminutive yet captivating passerine, measuring typically 10-11 cm (4-4.5 inches) in length and weighing 8-12 grams. Males are striking with their olive-green upperparts, a distinct black face (encompassing lores, chin, and throat) elegantly bordered by a bright yellow supercilium and malar stripe, culminating in a prominent black breast patch or 'bib'. This intricate facial pattern and bib are primary field marks, making males easily ident...
This species thrives in open, grassy areas, scrubland, forest edges, clearings, gardens, and agricultural plantations, typically at low to mid-elevations.
Primarily a granivore, its diet consists mainly of grass seeds and seeds from other herbaceous plants, supplemented with small insects, spiders, and occasionally small fruits.
The Yellow-faced Grassquit is a diurnal species, often observed foraging solitarily or in small, loose flocks, occasionally joining mixed-species feeding frenzies outside the breeding season. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning seeds directly from the heads of grasses and low-lying we...
The Yellow-faced Grassquit boasts a wide and largely continuous distribution across the Neotropics, primarily residing in Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Its range extends from the Atlantic slope of eastern Mexico, south through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, ...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name and appearance, the Yellow-faced Grassquit is not a true sparrow or finch, but a member of the tanager family (Thraupidae). - Its song is often described as a 'buzzing' or 'insect-like' trill, making it easily overlooked by the untrained ear as a bird call. - Males displ...