Olivaceous Thornbill (Chalcostigma olivaceum)

Identification & Behavior: ~14.5 cm (6 in). The male Olivaceous Thornbill is gray-greenish above and gray below.  It has a narrow iridescent green gorget, and gray rest of the underparts.  The tail in the male is gray, forked, and relatively long. The female is also gray-greenish above and gray below without a gorget. The tail is dusky brown, slightly notched. The bill in both sexes is black and straight. It forages in open habitats and often walks on very short grass. The female Blue-mantle Thornbill exhibits similar behavior, but the coloration is distinctive.

Status: The Olivaceous Thornbill is generally uncommon to rare in open grasslands mixed with shrubs at elevations ranging between 2800-4500 m. It occurs in separate populations in Peru and Bolivia.

Name in Spanish: Pico-Espina Oliváceo.

Sub-species: Olivaceous Thornbill (Chalcostigma olivaceum pallens), Carriker, 1935. Locally on W slope in C Peru (Ancash to NW Junín).
(Chalcostigma olivaceum olivaceum), Lawrence, 1864. Locally in E Andes of SE Peru (from Apurímac) to WC Bolivia (La Paz).

Meaning of Name: Chalcostigma: Gr. Khalkos=  bronze, copper and stigma, stigmatos=  mark, to tattoo. olivaceum: L. olivaceus, olivaceous= olive-green.

See more of the Family Trochilidae