Black-headed Brushfinch Arremon atricapillus Scientific name definitions

Black-headed Brushfinch formerly was included in a broadly distributed species, Stripe-headed Brushfinch, which extended from Costa Rica south to northern Argentina. "Stripe-headed Brushfinch" now is partitioned into no fewer than eight (!) species, most of which have restricted geographic distributions. Black-headed Brushfinch fits this pattern, as it is locally distributed in eastern Panama and in the Andes of Colombia. This species overlaps geographically in the Andes with another member of the "Stripe-headed Brushfinch complex", Gray-browed Brushfinch (Arremon assimilis); but the two species rarely if ever are in contact, as Black-headed Brushfinch occurs at lower elevations than Gray-browed. As the English names suggest, these two species also differ dramatically in head pattern: the sides of the head of Black-headed are entirely black, whereas Gray-browed has a broad gray supercilium, and also a long gray coronal streak. The natural history of Black-headed Brushfinch is very poorly known. Generally, however, its behavior is similar to that of related species: Black-headed Brushfinches are solitary or in pairs, and, while generally fairly common, they easily are overlooked as they forage quietly on the ground or in the undergrowth of humid forest and dense second growth.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.