The Perijá brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Emberizidae.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Serranía del Perijá, inhabiting humid montane and cloud forests with dense understory. It favors forest edges, secondary growth, and bamboo (often Chusquea) thickets where cover is abundant. Birds keep low to mid-levels in vegetation and may use shrubby pastures near intact forest. It has a highly restricted range split between the Colombian and Venezuelan slopes of the range.
Altitude Range
1200–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Perijá brushfinch is restricted to the Serranía del Perijá on the Colombia–Venezuela border and was only recently recognized as a distinct species. It keeps to dense understory and bamboo thickets, making it easier to hear than to see. Ongoing habitat loss from agriculture and logging has raised conservation concerns, prompting targeted surveys and habitat protection efforts.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low darting flights between cover
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups within dense cover. Territorial during the breeding season, with pairs nesting low in shrubs or bamboo, building a compact cup nest. Both parents participate in rearing chicks and defend the immediate nest area vigorously.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, thin whistles interspersed with short trills delivered from concealed perches. Pairs may engage in soft duets, and contact calls are sharp chips used to stay in touch within dense understory.
Plumage
Olive-tinged upperparts with contrasting gray head and yellowish underparts; the face shows a dark mask-like pattern with pale supercilium. The throat is pale with a darker malar border, and the breast may show a faint dusky band. Feathers appear smooth and sleek, adapted for moving through dense foliage.
Diet
Feeds on small insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and leaf litter. Also takes seeds, berries, and small fruits, especially when insect prey is less abundant. Foraging is methodical and low, often involving short hops and flicks of leaves to reveal prey.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of cloud forests, bamboo thickets, and shrubby edges. Will use secondary growth and occasionally shaded agroforestry edges when nearby forest cover persists.
