The Antioquia brushfinch is a poorly known species of bird from the family Passerellidae. It was scientifically described in 2007 on basis of three museum specimens from Antioquia, Colombia, which were previously labelled as slaty brushfinches. The specific epithet blancae refers to the whitish underparts of the new species, while also commemorating the Colombian lepidopterologist Blanca Huertas, the wife of ornithologist Thomas M. Donegan. All three museum skins were collected in the 20th century, but only one label has a date, which is given as 1971. Subsequent fieldwork in Antioquia has failed to find this species again. The species description has been approved by the South American Classification Committee. It has been recommended for a critically endangered status.
Region
Central Andes of Colombia (Antioquia)
Typical Environment
Occupies montane shrublands, hedgerows, fallow fields, and edges of shade coffee farms in the northern Central Andes. It favors dense secondary growth and tangled thickets along pastures, fences, and roadsides, where it forages low to the ground. The landscape is highly fragmented, and the species relies on small remnant scrub patches within agricultural matrices. Nesting is presumed to occur low in bushes and brushy ravines in similar habitats.
Altitude Range
2000–2600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Described in 2007 from museum specimens, this Colombian brushfinch was long unrecorded in the wild until its rediscovery in 2018 in northern Antioquia. It differs from similar slaty brushfinches by its distinctly whitish underparts. The species persists in a heavily altered agricultural landscape, where remnant hedgerows and scrub are crucial. Ongoing habitat loss leaves it at very high risk of extinction.
Temperament
skulking and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups within dense brush. Territorial during the breeding season, with both adults likely participating in nest defense and provisioning. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled phrases interspersed with sharp chips. Calls include metallic or scolding notes given from within cover. Song is delivered from low perches and often partially concealed.
