| Olive-backed Euphonia | |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Genus: | Euphonia |
| Species: | E. gouldi |
| Binomial name | |
| Euphonia gouldi Sclater, 1857 |
|
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.