Olive-backed Euphonia

Olive-backed Euphonia
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Genus:	Euphonia
Species:	E. gouldi
Binomial name
Euphonia gouldi Sclater, 1857

The Olive-backed Euphonia, Euphonia gouldi, is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama.

The Olive-backed Euphonia is found in wet forests, tall second growth and adjacent bushy clearings, typically from sea level to 750 m altitude, sometimes up to 1000 m. The spherical cup nest, with a side entrance, is hidden amongst epiphytes or mosses 2–11 m high in a tree. The normal clutch is three brown-marked white eggs.

The adult Olive-backed Euphonia is 9.5 cm long and weighs 12 g. The adult male has glossy olive upperparts, a yellow forehead, and a rufous belly surrounded by yellow. The adult female has less glossy upperparts than the male, a chestnut forehead, yellow underparts and a small rufous belly patch. Immatures are darker, duller, and have olive underparts.

The Olive-backed Euphonia occurs in small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. This species feeds mainly on small fruits.

The Olive-backed Euphonia’s call is a metallic chrrr-chrrr, and the song is mixture of the call with clear or nasal whistles.

The scientific species name commemorates John Gould, the English ornithologist.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Euphonia gouldi. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4