Black-throated Grosbeak

About the Black-throated Grosbeak

The black-throated grosbeak (Saltator fuliginosus) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The black-throated grosbeak was formally described in 1800 with the binomial Loxia fuliginosa. For a time it and the slate-colored grosbeak (S. grossus) were placed in the genus Pitylus, and some authors treated them as conspecific. They are sister species and some authors consider them a superspecies.

The black-throated grosbeak is monotypic. The black-throated grosbeak is 20 cm (7.9 in) to 22 cm (8.7 in) long. The species is sexually dimorphic though the sexes are similar. Adult males are mostly deep slate-blue. Their lores, face, ear coverts, throat, and upper breast are black. Their wings are black with deep slate blue feather edges and their tail is uniformly black. Their underwing coverts are white. Adult females are overall duller than males with less blue in their upperparts and less of a contrast between the upper and lower breast. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a bright coral-red bill, and dark gray legs and feet. Juveniles are duller and less blue than... Wikipedia →