Amazonian grosbeak explained

The Amazonian grosbeak or Rothschild's grosbeak (Cyanoloxia rothschildii) is a species of grosbeak in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found in much of the Amazon Basin, in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy and systematics

The Amazonian grosbeak is monotypic.^[1] It was formerly considered a subspecies of blue-black grosbeak (Cyanoloxia cyanoides) and following 2014 and 2016 publications it was elevated to species status.^{[3] [4] [5] [1]}

Description

The Amazonian grosbeak is long and weighs . The adult male is mostly dark blue. Its forecrown and part of the wings are light blue and the underparts are blackish on the belly. It has a bit of black on the face. The female's upperparts are dark brown and the underparts a paler brown. Juveniles are similar to the female.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The Amazonian grosbeak is the most widely distributed grosbeak in the Amazon Basin.^[5] It is found from eastern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador and Peru to central Bolivia, from southern and eastern Venezuela east through the Guianas, and in all of Amazonian Brazil. In Venezuela it ranges in elevation from near sea level to, in Peru to, and in Bolivia mostly to and rarely to . It inhabits the understory and edges of humid primary and tall secondary forests.^[2]

Behavior

Feeding

Little is known about the Amazonian grosbeak's feeding behavior and diet, though it appears to eat mostly seeds and fruit with some insects as well.^[2]

Breeding

Almost nothing is known about the Amazonian grosbeak's breeding phenology. It appears to nest between January and June. The nest is a cup of dried leaves and fern stems and the clutch size is two.^[2]

Vocalization

The Amazonian grosbeak's song has been rendered as "pee tee-tu-tu-ti-pee'chee". Its call is "a sharp, harsh, dry tchit".^[2] As of May 2021, no recordings were available at Xeno-canto or the Macaulay Library.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Amazonian grosbeak as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range and tolerates disturbed habitats. "In the longer term, however, Amazonian Grosbeak potentially is vulnerable to widespread habitat loss."^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cardinals, grosbeaks and "tanager" allies . IOC World Bird List . v 13.2) . Gill . F. . Donsker. D.. Rasmussen . P. . January 2023 . 11 December 2023 .
2. Fitzgibbon, D. and N. L. Block (2020). Amazonian Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia rothschildii), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bubgro2.01 retrieved May 17, 2021
3. Bryson, R.W., Chaves, J., Smith, B.T., Miller, M.J., Winker, K., Pérez-Emán, J.L. and Klicka, J. (2014). Diversification across the New World within the ‘blue’ cardinalids (Aves: Cardinalidae). J. Biogeogr. 41(3): 587–599.
4. García, N.C., Barreira, A.S., Kopuchian, C. and Tubaro, P.L. (2016). Congruence of phenotypic and genetic variation at the subspecific level in a Neotropical passerine. Ibis. 158(4): 844–856.
5. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021