Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Pale Naped Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes pallidinucha
Other: Matorralero Nuquipálido (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar:

Pale-naped Brush Finch at Guango Lodge. It’s a high altitude Brush-finch, with yellow-orange above bill fading into white streak as pictured.

Below, Pale-naped Brush Finch, Ecuador, March.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Yanacocha, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Rufous Naped Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes latinuchus
Other: Yellow-breasted Brush Finch (SACC) • Matorralero de pecho amarillo (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Pale-naped Brush Finch, Choco/Tricolored Brush Finch

The Brush Finches are in a state of taxonomic flux, but for this entry I’m following IOC v2.11 Jan 2012 taxonomy, which corresponds to Ridgely & Greenfield, Birds of Ecuador, 2001, and does not include the Bolivian Brush Finch.

These photos were taken on the Yanacocha trail at 3500m, near Quito in northwestern Ecuador - a bit higher than the range suggested in Birds of Ecuador: 3200m.

I don’t think there’s much point spending too much time on the ID/name of these birds as they will doubtless change names again.

Typically though Rufous-nape Brush-finch should have a rufous nape, black mask, dark grey upperparts, yellow underparts going greyish near the legs.

Below, presumed Rufous-naped Brush Finch, Yanacocha, March.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecoruta, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: White Winged Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes leucopterus
Other: Matorralero aliblanco (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Pale-naped Brush Finch, Tricolored Brush Finch

I saw the White-winged Brush Finch on a couple of occasions, both in the same general region northwest of Quito, once on the Ecoruta and once at Angel Paz’s reserve. Both times there was a Crimson-mantled Woodpecker nearby. Ridgely places White-winged Brush Finch at between 1600 and 2600m on the western slope in Ecuador.

The White-winged Brush Finch has whitish underparts, grey upperparts with prominent white wing bar, dark head, rufous head stripe and dark malar stripe, though there are various subspecies, some much whiter, especially in the south.

Below, White-winged Brush Finch, Ecoruta, March, 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Guango Lodge, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Slaty Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes schistaceus
Other: Matorralero pizarroso (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Bay-crowned Brush Finch

Ridgely says the Slaty Brush Finch is the only Brush Finch with whitish-grey underparts on the eastern slope, so these birds must be Slaty Brush Finch then. They occur at high altitude, between 2500 and 3400 m - I saw them at 2800 at Guango Lodge on the eastern slope in Ecuador.

The White-winged Brush Finch has whitish-grey underparts, a white wing bar, dark head, rufous head stripe, dark malar stripe, and light patch above the bill.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Choco Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes crassus
Other: Tricolored Brush Finch (SACC) • Matorralero tricolor (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Tricolored Finch, Rufous-naped Brush Finch, Pale-naped Finch

Well, I was going to upload this photo as a record shot of a Tricolored Finch in the cloudforest, but I see that the IOC currently has Choco Brush Finch in Ecuador, and Tricolored Brush Finch in Peru, so I guess that the former is this bird.

Ridgely has “Tricolored Brush Finch” as occurring between 600 and 1800m on the northwest slope - I saw the bird above at about 1800m at the Santa Lucia Reserve, north of Quito.

I saw similar birds at Yanacocha but rejected them as Choco/Tricolored because at 3700m that should be out of range.

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Chestnut Capped Brush Finch
Latin: Arremon brunneinucha
Other: was Buarremon • Rascadorcito gorricastaño (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Mexico, via Panama, Colombia, to Ecuador, Peru
Similar:

A horde of Chestnut-capped Brush Finches immediately appeared when the guide put out some seed for them in the forests above Los Quetzales. I had seen one before briefly with juvenile (photo further below) in El Valle, but the prospect of a good meal was all these birds needed to overcome their otherwise shy nature.

Adult Chestnut-capped Brush Finches are great-looking birds with a chestnut crown bordered by a thin yellow stripe, black face with white spots, white throat bordered by black line below, grey chest, white belly, greenish back and grey tail.

Below, Chestnut-Capped Brush Finch, Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: White Naped Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes albinucha
Other: Yellow-throated Brush Finch, Atlapetes gutturalis, is conspecific - Atlapetes barbiamarillo, Comepuntas (Es) • Atlapetes corona blanquirrayada (Mex)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Mexico to western Panama, Colombia
Similar:

The White-naped Brush Finch is also known in Panama as the Yellow-throated Brush Finch, and now considered conspecific by the IOC.

In Panama the White-naped Brush Finch has a yellow throat, white crest, white underside and dark upperparts. Seen here around the Lago Volcan.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Large Footed Finch
Latin: Pezopetes capitalis
Other: Pata Larga (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows, Brush Finches
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar:

I think the above photo is a juvenile Large-footed Finch and the lowest photo is a blurry shot probably of an adult seen at the same time.

We saw these above Cerro Punta in the Chiriqui mountains - higher than 2000 metres.More photos...

226 Emberizidae - Buntings, New World Sparrows, Brush Finches, Bush Tanagers - IOC 2.5 - 2010 (+2.8)

Emberiza lathami - Crested Bunting - Himalayas to Thailand, SE China - Was Melophus
Emberiza siemsseni - Slaty Bunting - C China - Was Latoucheornis
Emberiza calandra - Corn Bunting - W, SC, Eurasia, also N Africa
Emberiza citrinella - Yellowhammer - W, C Eurasia - N Africa
Emberiza leucocephalos - Pine Bunting - C, E Eurasia - S Asia, Southeast Asia
Emberiza cia - Rock Bunting - SW, SC Eurasia
Emberiza godlewskii - Godlewski's Bunting - C Eurasia
Emberiza cioides - Meadow Bunting - E Eurasia
Emberiza stewarti - White-capped Bunting - Himalayas to C India
Emberiza jankowskii - Jankowski's Bunting - E Eurasia
Emberiza buchanani - Grey-necked Bunting - S, C Eurasia - India
Emberiza cineracea - Cinereous Bunting - SC Eurasia - NE Africa
Emberiza hortulana - Ortolan Bunting - W, C Eurasia - N Africa, S Asia
Emberiza caesia - Cretzschmar's Bunting - SW Eurasia - NE Africa
Emberiza cirlus - Cirl Bunting - W, SW, Eurasia, also NW Africa
Emberiza striolata - Striolated Bunting - NE Africa to SW Asia and NW India - Was House Bunting
Emberiza sahari - House Bunting - NW Africa - Split from E. striolata
Emberiza impetuani - Lark-like Bunting - SW Africa
Emberiza tahapisi - Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Widespread Africa, also SW Arabian Peninsula
Emberiza socotrana - Socotra Bunting - Socotra Island
Emberiza capensis - Cape Bunting - S Africa
Emberiza vincenti - Vincent's Bunting - Malawi
Emberiza tristrami - Tristram's Bunting - E Eurasia - S China, N Southeast Asia
Emberiza fucata - Chestnut-eared Bunting - C, E Eurasia - Southeast Asia
Emberiza pusilla - Little Bunting - N Eurasia - Asia
Emberiza chrysophrys - Yellow-browed Bunting - NC, NE Eurasia - E, S China
Emberiza rustica - Rustic Bunting - N Eurasia - E China
Emberiza elegans - Yellow-throated Bunting - E Eurasia - Southeast Asia
Emberiza aureola - Yellow-breasted Bunting - N, E Eurasia - Asia
Emberiza poliopleura - Somali Bunting - EC Africa
Emberiza flaviventris - Golden-breasted Bunting - Widespread Africa
Emberiza affinis - Brown-rumped Bunting - W, C, E Africa
Emberiza cabanisi - Cabanis's Bunting - W, C,e, SE Africa
Emberiza rutila - Chestnut Bunting - E Eurasia - Asia
Emberiza koslowi - Tibetan Bunting - Himalayas to WC China
Emberiza melanocephala - Black-headed Bunting - SC Eurasia - India
Emberiza bruniceps - Red-headed Bunting - SC Eurasia - India
Emberiza sulphurata - Yellow Bunting - Japan, Korea - SE China, Philippines
Emberiza spodocephala - Black-faced Bunting - E Eurasia - Asia
Emberiza variabilis - Grey Bunting - E Eurasia
Emberiza pallasi - Pallas's Reed Bunting - E Eurasia
Emberiza yessoensis - Japanese Reed Bunting - E Eurasia
Emberiza schoeniclus - Common Reed Bunting - Widespread Eurasia - N Africa, S Asia

Calamospiza melanocorys - Lark Bunting - C North America - to NC Mexico

Passerella iliaca - Fox Sparrow - W, N North America - SE South America, N Mexico

Melospiza melodia - Song Sparrow - Widespread North America, also to C Mexico
Melospiza lincolnii - Lincoln's Sparrow - W, N North America - Central America
Melospiza georgiana - Swamp Sparrow - NC, NE North America - to NE Mexico

Zonotrichia capensis - Rufous-collared Sparrow - S Mexico to S Argentina, Latin America, Hispaniola
Zonotrichia querula - Harris's Sparrow - NC North America - SC South America
Zonotrichia leucophrys - White-crowned Sparrow - N North America - to C Mexico
Zonotrichia albicollis - White-throated Sparrow - N North America - to N Mexico
Zonotrichia atricapilla - Golden-crowned Sparrow - NW North America - to NW Mexico

Junco vulcani - Volcano Junco - Costa Rica, Panama
Junco hyemalis - Dark-eyed Junco - N, W North America - S South America to Mexico
Junco insularis - Guadalupe Junco - Guadalupe Island - Split from J. hyemalis
Junco phaeonotus - Yellow-eyed Junco - SW USA to Guatemala

Passerculus sandwichensis - Savannah Sparrow - Canada to Guatemala

Ammodramus maritimus - Seaside Sparrow - E, S USA coasts
Ammodramus nelsoni - Nelson's Sparrow - Canada - SE South America
Ammodramus caudacutus - Saltmarsh Sparrow - E, NE USA - SE South America
Ammodramus leconteii - Le Conte's Sparrow - NC North America - SE South America
Ammodramus bairdii - Baird's Sparrow - NC North America - to N Mexico
Ammodramus henslowii - Henslow's Sparrow - C, EC North America - SE South America
Ammodramus savannarum - Grasshopper Sparrow - Widespread N America, M America, Colombia
Ammodramus humeralis - Grassland Sparrow - Widespread South America - was Myospiza humeralis
Ammodramus aurifrons - Yellow-browed Sparrow - Colombia to Amazonia - was Myospiza aurifrons

Xenospiza baileyi - Sierra Madre Sparrow - C Mexico

Spizella arborea - American Tree Sparrow - N Canada, Alaska - South America
Spizella passerina - Chipping Sparrow - Widespread North America, Middle America
Spizella pusilla - Field Sparrow - E, C North America - to NE Mexico
Spizella wortheni - Worthen's Sparrow - NE Mexico
Spizella atrogularis - Black-chinned Sparrow - SW USA, Mexico
Spizella pallida - Clay-colored Sparrow - C North America - to W Mexico
Spizella breweri - Brewer's Sparrow - WC North America - to C Mexico

Pooecetes gramineus - Vesper Sparrow - W, N North America - SE South America, Mexico

Chondestes grammacus - Lark Sparrow - W, N North America - SE South America to Guatemala

Amphispiza bilineata - Black-throated Sparrow - W USA to C Mexico
Amphispiza belli - Sage Sparrow - WC, SW North America, Middle America - NW Mexico

Aimophila ruficauda - Stripe-headed Sparrow - W Mexico to C Guatemala
Aimophila humeralis - Black-chested Sparrow - W Mexico
Aimophila mystacalis - Bridled Sparrow - C Mexico
Aimophila sumichrasti - Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow - SW Mexico
Aimophila stolzmanni - Tumbes Sparrow - Ecuador, Peru
Aimophila strigiceps - Stripe-capped Sparrow - SC South America
Aimophila carpalis - Rufous-winged Sparrow - SW USA, NW Mexico
Aimophila cassinii - Cassin's Sparrow - SC, SW USA, N Mexico
Aimophila aestivalis - Bachman's Sparrow - SE USA
Aimophila botterii - Botteri's Sparrow - SW USA to Costa Rica
Aimophila ruficeps - Rufous-crowned Sparrow - SC, SW USA, Mexico
Aimophila rufescens - Rusty Sparrow - NW Mexico to NW Costa Rica
Aimophila notosticta - Oaxaca Sparrow - S Mexico
Aimophila quinquestriata - Five-striped Sparrow - NW, W Mexico

Torreornis inexpectata - Zapata Sparrow - Cuba

Oriturus superciliosus - Striped Sparrow - W, C Mexico

Porphyrospiza caerulescens - Blue Finch - SC South America

Pipilo chlorurus - Green-tailed Towhee - W USA - C Mexico
Pipilo ocai - Collared Towhee - Mexico
Pipilo maculatus - Spotted Towhee - SW Canada to W Guatemala
Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Eastern Towhee - S Canada, C, E USA - to N Mexico
Pipilo albicollis - White-throated Towhee - Mexico
Pipilo fuscus - Canyon Towhee - SW USA, Mexico
Pipilo crissalis - California Towhee - W USA, North America, also Baja California
Pipilo aberti - Abert's Towhee - SW USA, NW Mexico

Melozone kieneri - Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow - Mexico
Melozone biarcuata - Prevost's Ground Sparrow - Mexico to Nicaragua
Melozone cabanisi - Cabanis's Ground Sparrow - C Costa Rica - Split from M. biarcuta
Melozone leucotis - White-eared Ground Sparrow - S Mexico to Costa Rica

Arremonops rufivirgatus - Olive Sparrow - S Texas to Costa Rica
Arremonops tocuyensis - Tocuyo Sparrow - Colombia, Venezuela
Arremonops chloronotus - Green-backed Sparrow - SE Mexico to Honduras
Arremonops conirostris - Black-striped Sparrow - Honduras to N Brazil

changes below 2.8
Arremon taciturnus - Pectoral Sparrow - NW South America, Amazonia
Arremon semitorquatus - Half-collared Sparrow - SE Brazil
Arremon franciscanus - Sao Francisco Sparrow - EC Brazil
Arremon flavirostris - Saffron-billed Sparrow - SE, SC South America
Arremon aurantiirostris - Orange-billed Sparrow - SE Mexico to NE Peru
Arremon schlegeli - Golden-winged Sparrow - Colombia, Venezuela
Arremon abeillei - Black-capped Sparrow - Ecuador, Peru
Arremon brunneinucha - Chestnut-capped Brush Finch - Mexico to Ecuador - was Buarremon
Arremon virenticeps - Green-striped Brush Finch - W, C Mexico
Arremon torquatus - Stripe-headed Brush Finch - Costa Rica to NW Argentina
Arremon atricapillus - Black-headed Brush Finch - E Panama, Colombia - Split from A. torquatus
Arremon crassirostris - Sooty-faced Finch - Costa Rica, Panama - was Lysurus
Arremon castaneiceps - Olive Finch - Colombia to Peru

Pezopetes capitalis - Large-footed Finch - Costa Rica, Panama

Atlapetes pileatus - Rufous-capped Brush Finch - Mexico
Atlapetes albofrenatus - Moustached Brush Finch - Venezuela, Colombia
Atlapetes semirufus - Ochre-breasted Brush Finch - Venezuela, Colombia
Atlapetes personatus - Tepui Brush Finch - Tepuis
Atlapetes albinucha - White-naped Brush Finch - Mexico - Yellow-throated Brush Finch Atlapetes gutturalis is conspecific
Atlapetes melanocephalus - Santa Marta Brush Finch - Colombia
Atlapetes pallidinucha - Pale-naped Brush Finch - Venezuela to Peru
Atlapetes flaviceps - Yellow-headed Brush Finch - Colombia
Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus - Dusky-headed Brush Finch - Colombia
Atlapetes crassus - Choco Brush Finch - Colombia, Ecuador
Atlapetes tricolor - Tricolored Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes leucopis - White-rimmed Brush Finch - Colombia, Ecuador
Atlapetes latinuchus - Rufous-naped Brush Finch - Venezuela & Colombia to Peru
Atlapetes blancae - Antioquia Brush Finch - NC Colombia - Atlapetes blancae new species
Atlapetes rufigenis - Rufous-eared Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes forbesi - Apurimac Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes melanopsis - Black-spectacled Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes schistaceus - Slaty Brush Finch - Venezuela to Peru
Atlapetes leucopterus - White-winged Brush Finch - Ecuador, Peru
Atlapetes albiceps - White-headed Brush Finch - Ecuador, Peru
Atlapetes pallidiceps - Pale-headed Brush Finch - Ecuador
Atlapetes seebohmi - Bay-crowned Brush Finch - Ecuador, Peru
Atlapetes nationi - Rusty-bellied Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes canigenis - Cuzco Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes terborghi - Vilcabamba Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes melanolaemus - Grey-eared Brush Finch - Peru
Atlapetes rufinucha - Bolivian Brush Finch - Bolivia
Atlapetes fulviceps - Fulvous-headed Brush Finch - Bolivia, NW Argentina
Atlapetes citrinellus - Yellow-striped Brush Finch - Argentina

Pselliophorus tibialis - Yellow-thighed Finch - Costa Rica, Panama
Pselliophorus luteoviridis - Yellow-green Finch - Panama

Gubernatrix cristata - Yellow Cardinal - Uruguay, N, E Argentina

Paroaria coronata - Red-crested Cardinal - SE South America
Paroaria dominicana - Red-cowled Cardinal - NE Brazil
Paroaria gularis - Red-capped Cardinal - Amazonia
Paroaria baeri - Crimson-fronted Cardinal - SC Brazil
Paroaria capitata - Yellow-billed Cardinal - SC South America

Chlorospingus ophthalmicus - Common Bush Tanager - SW Mexico to N Argentina - comprises multiple species, C. flavopectus, C. ophthalmicus to Mexico
Chlorospingus tacarcunae - Tacarcuna Bush Tanager - Panama, Colombia
Chlorospingus inornatus - Pirre Bush Tanager - Panama
Chlorospingus semifuscus - Dusky Bush Tanager - Colombia, Ecuador
Chlorospingus pileatus - Sooty-capped Bush Tanager - Costa Rica, Panama
Chlorospingus parvirostris - Yellow-whiskered Bush Tanager - Colombia to Bolivia
Chlorospingus flavigularis - Yellow-throated Bush Tanager - Panama to Peru
Chlorospingus flavovirens - Yellow-green Bush Tanager - Colombia, Ecuador
Chlorospingus canigularis - Ashy-throated Bush Tanager - Costa Rica to Peru