Olive-backed euphonia

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.

Olive-backed euphonia
Male E. g. praetermissa, Costa Rica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Euphoniinae
Genus:	Euphonia
Species:	E. gouldi
Binomial name
Euphonia gouldi Sclater, PL, 1857

Olive-backed Euphonia (flash photo) Selva Verde Lodge - Costa Rica

E. g. gouldi male feeding on custard apple (Annona reticulata)

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

• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4