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Photo: © Andres Vasquez Noboa eBird S141837478 Macaulay Library ML 586451241
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Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak

Parkerthraustes humeralis
Picogordo Verdiamarillo
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Song

Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak

Appearance: The Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is a medium-sized bird with a  yellow shoulder patch on its wings. It has a black head, back, and tail, with a bright yellow breast and belly. The bill is thick and conical, ideal for cracking seeds.
Habitat: The Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is found in humid forests and forest edges in the northern Andes. They prefer to inhabit montane forests at elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 m.
Behavior: These birds are seed-eaters, using their strong bills to crack open tough seeds. They are often seen foraging in small groups, moving through the forest canopy in search of food.
Breeding: The breeding behavior of the Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is not well documented, but they are known to build cup-shaped nests in trees and shrubs.
Conservation Status: The Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is listed as Near Threatened in Colombia.

Distribution

The Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is endemic to the northern Andes where it is found in the departments of Nariño and south of Cauca department.

Taxonomy

The Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak (Parkerthraustes humeralis)
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves (Birds)
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Thraupidae
  • Genus: Parkerthraustes
  • Species: Parkerthraustes humeralis

Vocalization

The song of the Yellow-shouldered Grossbeak is a series of melodious, clear, flute-like notes that are repeated several times. Their call is a sharp "chik" or "tik" sound.