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Olive-backed euphonia

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Olive-backed euphonia
Male E. g. praetermissa, Costa Rica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Euphoniinae
Genus: Euphonia
Species:
E. gouldi
Binomial name
Euphonia gouldi
Olive-backed Euphonia (flash photo) Selva Verde Lodge - Costa Rica
E. g. gouldi feeding on custard apple (Annona reticulata)

The olive-backed euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama.

The olive-backed euphonia is found in wet forests, tall second growth and adjacent bushy clearings, typically from sea level to 750 m altitude, sometimes up to 1000 m. The spherical cup nest, with a side entrance, is hidden amongst epiphytes or mosses 2–11 m high in a tree. The normal clutch is three brown-marked white eggs.

The adult olive-backed euphonia is 9.5 cm long and weighs 12 g. The adult male has glossy olive upperparts, a yellow forehead, and a rufous belly surrounded by yellow. The adult female has less glossy upperparts than the male, a chestnut forehead, yellow underparts and a small rufous belly patch. Immatures are darker, duller, and have olive underparts.

The olive-backed euphonia occurs in small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. This species feeds mainly on small fruits.

The olive-backed euphonia's call is a metallic chrrr-chrrr, and the song is mixture of the call with clear or nasal whistles.

The scientific species name commemorates John Gould, the English ornithologist.

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Euphonia gouldi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22722750A137408287. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22722750A137408287.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.