The Paria brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. It lives in the undergrowth of humid forest, especially near the edges, at altitudes of 300 to 1,200 metres in the Venezuelan Coastal Range.
Region
Venezuelan Coastal Range (Paria Peninsula)
Typical Environment
This species inhabits humid foothill and montane forest, particularly dense understory and edge thickets, often near streams and clearings. It favors secondary growth and shrubby borders where leaf litter accumulates. The bird typically stays low, moving through tangles and sapling thickets. Forest fragmentation can concentrate it along edges but it still requires substantial canopy cover for shelter and nesting.
Altitude Range
300–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to Venezuela’s Paria Peninsula, this skulking brushfinch keeps to dense understory where it is more often heard than seen. It forages on or near the ground, flicking leaves aside for seeds, insects, and small fruits. Its crisp black-and-white head pattern contrasts with olive upperparts, helping experienced birders pick it out along forest edges and trails.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks along forest edges. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation, with both adults involved in territory defense. Breeding behavior includes discrete ground or low-shrub foraging near the nest to avoid detection.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, whistled series of notes and short trills delivered from low cover, often repeated with slight variations. Contact calls are sharp chips given while moving through leaf litter.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with grayish underparts; head boldly patterned with black and white striping. Feathers appear neat and close-fitting, giving a sleek look despite its preference for dense brush.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds, berries, and a variety of arthropods such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. It often scratches through leaf litter and probes among roots and fallen branches. Seasonal availability of fruits and insects likely shapes its diet composition. Opportunistic foraging along edges is common after rains when prey becomes more accessible.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or near the ground within dense understory, vine tangles, and along shaded trail edges. Also uses streamside thickets and secondary growth where cover is abundant.
