Plush-capped finch
The Plush-capped Finch (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) is a unique bird species endemic to the humid forest edges and clearings of the Andes Mountains, spanning from Venezuela to Argentina. Notable for its striking appearance, the finch features a distinctive yellow crown of stiff, plush-like feathers on its head, complemented by dark gray plumage on its back and chestnut-colored underparts. Measuring approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) in length and weighing around 0.5 ounces (13-15 grams), there is a size difference between males and females, with females being smaller.
These finches inhabit elevations ranging from 7,500 to 11,500 feet (2,300 to 3,500 meters) and are primarily found above the cloud line. Their diet consists of insects, berries, and various plants, often foraging in small groups and sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. The Plush-capped Finch is the sole member of the genus Catamblyrhynchus and is recognized to have three subspecies, each displaying subtle variations in coloration and feather structure. Their unique characteristics and remote habitat make them a fascinating subject for birdwatchers and ornithologists alike.
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Plush-capped finch
Little is known about the plush-capped finch that lives in western South America. Its name comes from the yellow crown of stiff, erect, plush-like feathers on its head.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Catamblyrhynchus
Species: Diadema
The small plush-capped finch lives in the humid forest edges and clearings in the Andes Mountains from Venezuela to Argentina. They live at elevations between 7,500–11,500 feet (2,300–3,500 meters), often above the clouds. They find and eat insects in the forests' Chusquea bamboo, berries, and some plants.
The plush-capped finch is 5 1/2 inches (14 centimeters) long and weighs around 1/2 ounce (13 to 15 grams). Females are smaller than males. Its plumage, or feathering, is dark gray on its back and the upper and lower surfaces of its fan-shaped tail feathers. The back of its head and its nape, or the back of its neck, are black. The feathering on its face, throat, breast, and the rest of its underside is chestnut. A crown of stiff, erect, plush-like, yellow feathers tops its head. The finch looks like a golden-crowned Tanager (Iridosornis rufivertex) except for its short, thick, stubby, black bill, which looks like that of a bunting (genus Emberiza).
Plush-capped finches forrage in small groups and may join flocks of other species. They are the only species in the genus Catamblyrhynchus. Three subspecies are identified—Catamblyrhynchus diadema federalis, Catamblyrhynchus diadema diadema, and Catamblyrhynchus diadema citrinifrons. C. d. federalis are more brightly colored than the C. d. diadema, with a smaller, muted-yellow forecrown patch. C. d. citrinifrons have a chestnut colored band bordering their pale-yellow crown and less structured feathers.
Bibliography
"Plushcap." Avibase, avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=D8AD3D11FB46230B. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Salinas, A., and K. J. Burns. "Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus Diadema)." Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/plushc1/cur/introduction. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
"Tanagers and Allies." IOC World Bird List, 24 Dec. 2023, www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/tanagers. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.