- Blue-black Grassquit
Taxobox
name = Blue-black Grassquit
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Thraupidae
genus = " Volatinia "
genus_authority = Reichenbach 1850
species = "V. jacarina"
binomial = "Volatinia jacarina"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1766)The Blue-black Grassquit, "Volatinia jacarina", is a small
bird of the familyThraupidae . Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. It breeds from southernMexico throughCentral America , andSouth America as far as northernChile ,Argentina andParaguay , and onTrinidad and Tobago . It is the only member of the genus "Volatinia".This is a common bird in semi-open areas, including cultivation and gardens. It makes a small cup nest, with a typical clutch of one to three pale green eggs blotched with reddish brown. Both sexes incubate for 9–10 days, with about the same period again for the young to fledge.
Adult Blue-black Grassquits are 10.2cm long and weigh 9.3g. They have a slender conical black bill. The male is glossy blue-black, with a black tail and wings; the white inner underwing is visible in flight or display. Female and immature birds have brown upperparts and dark-streaked buff underparts.
Blue-black Grassquit feeds mainly on seeds. It is quite gregarious, and forms communal evening roosts.
The male has a jumping display, often performed for long periods, which gives rise to the local name Johnny Jump-up. This is accompanied by a persistent wheezing "jweeee" call.
References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9413 Blue-black Grassquit videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
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