Atlapetes flaviceps
The Yellow-headed Brushfinch (*Atlapetes flaviceps*) is a strikingly colored and highly enigmatic songbird endemic to the humid montane forests of the central Andes of Colombia. Measuring approximately 17 cm (6.7 in) in length and weighing between 28-36 grams (1.0-1.3 oz), this medium-sized sparrow-like bird is instantly recognizable by its vibrant, unstreaked bright yellow head, which contrasts sharply with its olive-green upperparts, wings, and tail. Its underparts are a clean, bright yello...
This brushfinch inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, as well as secondary growth and shrubby clearings, typically at elevations between 1,200 to 2,400 meters (3,900–7,900 feet).
Their diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates, supplemented with small fruits and seeds obtained through gleaning from vegetation and foraging on the ground.
Yellow-headed Brushfinches are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging in the dense understory and mid-story vegetation. They typically forage by gleaning insects and small fruits from leaves, branches, and the forest floor, often flicking leaf litter with their bills. They are usually obs...
The Yellow-headed Brushfinch is entirely endemic to a highly restricted range within the humid montane forests of the central Andes of Colombia. Its known distribution spans fragmented populations across several departments, including Tolima, Cundinamarca, Huila, and Quindío. It is a non-migrator...
Endangered
- The Yellow-headed Brushfinch was known from only a handful of specimens collected in the early 20th century and was considered 'lost' or possibly extinct for over 60 years until its rediscovery in 1986. - Its rediscovery by a team from the American Museum of Natural History sparked intense cons...