The Sierra Nevada brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae.
Region
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern Colombia
Typical Environment
This species is restricted to humid montane forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It occurs in dense understory, forest edges, second growth, and bamboo or chusquea thickets. Birds often keep to shaded ravines and thickets where leaf litter and low vegetation provide cover. It tolerates some habitat disturbance but depends on structurally complex understory.
Altitude Range
900–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Sierra Nevada brushfinch is a skulking understory sparrow found only in Colombia’s isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif. It belongs to the family Passerellidae and was split from the Stripe-headed Brushfinch complex based on vocal and plumage differences. It favors dense, humid montane forest edges and thickets where it forages mostly on or near the ground.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct through understory
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, moving quietly through dense cover. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in shrubs or dense vegetation. Both parents participate in caring for the young, and pairs defend small territories during the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, whistled phrases and sweet trills delivered from concealed perches. Calls include sharp metallic chips used for contact within pairs and alarm notes when disturbed.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with grayish underparts, a clean white throat bordered by a dark breast band, and a boldly patterned head. The head shows a striking white supercilium and dark lateral crown/eye-line, giving a masked appearance. The wings and tail are dusky with olive edging.
Diet
Feeds on small insects, spiders, and other arthropods gleaned from leaf litter and low foliage. Supplements its diet with seeds, small fruits, and berries, especially outside the peak insect season. It often forages by hopping on the ground and flicking leaves to uncover prey.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of humid montane forest, edges, and thickets where cover is abundant. Frequently uses bamboo stands and regenerating secondary growth for foraging.
