Tanager Finch

About the Tanager Finch

The tanager finch (Oreothraupis arremonops) is a songbird species. In spite of its common name, it is neither a tanager nor a finch, but a New World sparrow, having been moved to that family after variously being placed in either the Emberizidae or the true tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Oreothraupis.

It is found in Colombia and Ecuador, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. This bird is commonly around 20-30 cm. It is a small and bulky bird with a short, black beak. It has a black head with a white colored strip running towards its back. Tanager finches have a white stomach, which contrasts its rust or light orange body color, and dark brown legs. It has a proportional tail, which is a rust color that is slightly darker than its body. The male and female species of this bird look the same.

The tanager finch can be found foraging in moist undergrowth, beneath low shrubs, and in leaf litter of mossy forests. They frequently scavenge in pairs or family groups, on or just above the ground. They have been seen scratching at litter leaves on the... Wikipedia →