Caracas Brushfinch Arremon phaeopleurus Scientific name definitions

Caracas 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. Caracas Brushfinch fits this pattern, as it is entirely restricted to the coastal mountain ranges of north central Venezuela. The natural history of Caracas Brushfinch is very poorly known. Generally, however, its behavior is similar to that of related species: Caracas 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.

19 cm. A stocky brush-finch which looks relatively large-headed, with longish bill. Has cap and face black, with grey ­median crownstripe and greyish-white super­cilium that nearly reaches to bill base, both median crownstripe and supercilium becoming more whitish near bill, supercilium also widening behind eye and joining with grey neck side, grey colour extending down to side of breast; black ends ­discretely below cheek and ear-coverts, contrast­ing strongly with white throat; upperparts, including wings and tail, olive-green (looking more grass-green in good light); white of throat separated from underparts by black breastband, with side of breast grey, flanks to vent olive-buff; iris chestnut-brown; bill black; legs dull fleshy to blackish. Sexes alike. Juvenile apparently undescribed.

Mountains of Aragua, Miranda and Distrito Federal, in N Venezuela.

No information on diet. Forages on ground; scratches at leaf litter with its bill. Singly and in pairs.

Song is very high-pitched, almost hummingbird-like. It typically consists of a three to five-note phrase repeated continuously. One phrase takes about 5s and has a few notes strongly rising in pitch followed by a somewhat more rasping note descending in pitch. 

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Cordillera de la Costa Central EBA. Status little known. Until recently was treated as a race of A. torquatus. Has relatively small global range, but may be stable in terms of numbers. Uncommon. Occurs within several well-conserved protected areas: San Esteban (IUCN Cat. II; 435 km²), Henri Pittier (IUCN Cat. II; 1078 km²), Macarao (IUCN Cat. II; 150 km²), El Ávila (IUCN Cat. II; 852 km²) and Guatopo National Parks (IUCN Cat. II; 1225 km²), as well as Pico Codazzi (IUCN Cat. III; 80 km²) and Cerro Platillón Nature Monuments (IUCN Cat. III; 119 km²). This species is probably not threatened, although perhaps Near Threatened; its conservation status is likely similar to the other Venezuelan Montane Centre (Coastal Cordillera) endemics with which it shares its range, such as Grallaricula loricata, Synallaxis castanea, Pogonotriccus venezuelanus and Tangara rufigenis. However, its tolerance of secondary and degraded forest should be evaluated. Considered Vulnerable at the national level in Venezuela (3 Lentino, M. and Sharpe, C.J. (2015). Corbatico avileño, Arremon phaeopleurus. In:. Close ).

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.