Peru's Endemic Birds VI: Cuzco Brushfinch

	Passeriformes
	Passerellidae
	Atlapetes
	Peru (endemic)
	Least Concern

The Cuzco Brushfinch is a small songbird in the Passerellidae family. It is endemic to the humid montane forests of southeastern Peru.

General Information

• Scientific name: Atlapetes canigenis

• Described by: Frank M. Chapman in 1919

Taxonomy

• Previously considered a subspecies of the slaty brushfinch (Atlapetes schistaceus).

• Now recognized as a distinct species based on differences in plumage and vocalizations.

• Part of a group of brushfinches found primarily in Andean South America.

Physical Description

• Medium-sized brushfinch with a long tail and rounded body.

• Overall color: Dusky gray

• Distinctive features:

  • Rufous crown and nape

  • Black facial stripe running from the bill through the eyes

  • Paler gray underparts, sometimes approaching white on the belly

  • Dark wings and tail with faint gray or brownish margins

• Both sexes have similar plumage; females are slightly smaller.

Measurements:

• Male wing: ~76 mm; tail: ~78 mm; tarsus: ~27 mm; culmen: ~15.5 mm

• Female wing: ~72 mm; tail: ~72 mm; tarsus: ~25 mm; culmen: ~15 mm

Habitat and Range

• Found only in southeastern Peru, mostly in the Cuzco region and Cordillera Vilcabamba. Birding available with Birding Tours Peru.

• Inhabits humid montane forests, especially:

  • Dense forest undergrowth

  • Bamboo thickets

  • Forest edges and second-growth areas

• Elevation range: 2,300 to 3,600 meters, most common between 2,500 and 3,000 meters.

• Total known range is about 47,100 km².

Behavior and Ecology

Feeding:

• Likely eats a mix of insects, seeds, and small fruits.

• Forages in dense vegetation, usually in the understorey or near the ground.

Vocalizations:

• Males often sing at dawn.

Breeding:

• Little is known about its breeding behavior.

• Believed to build cup-shaped nests in dense vegetation.

• Breeding activity occurs at high elevations, likely tied to seasonal rainfall.

Conservation

• Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

• Though its habitat is shrinking due to agriculture and development, the species:

  • Remains locally common in many parts of its range.

  • Is not currently declining at a rate that would trigger a higher conservation status.

• Estimated habitat loss: around 17% of suitable habitat in recent decades.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: Holmes Pantoja