Black-backed Grosbeak Pheucticus aureoventris Scientific name definitions

The Black-backed Grosbeak is largely uncommon, though locally fairly common, throughout its range on the eastern Andean slope. It occurs in arid intermontane valleys and at forest edges, where it is often seen in gardens and agricultural areas. It forages at a variety of heights but generally sings from a high perch; in general, it is fairly conspicuous. Although there are several subspecies, all share a black head and back with bright yellow underparts. Most subspecies have a yellow rump, though this varies in extent. The female has similar patterning to the male but is fainter overall. The song of the Black-backed Grosbeak is a series of melodic whistled phrases, and its call is a sharp tink! note.

22 cm; 43.8–57.2 g (Bolivia), 55.4–66.2 g (Colombia). Male nominate subspecies has upperparts black, sometimes with narrow yellow fringes on rump feathers and white tips to longest uppertail coverts; shoulder patch yellow; upperwing black, primaries with broad white flash at base, median and greater coverts with broad white tips (conspicuous bars on closed wing); rectrices blackish, outermost feathers with large white areas on inner webs and some white on outer webs; chin to upper breast black, lower breast and rest of abdomen bright yellow, sometimes with some orange on line down mid-belly, sides and flanks variably flecked black, undertail coverts much whiter, with small black tips; underwing pale yellow; iris brown; upper mandible black, lower mandible blue-gray; legs blue-gray. Female is similar to male, but browner and more mottled with yellow above, mostly yellow with dusky speckling below, except on belly; less white on rectrices. Immature male has crown dull blackish brown with yellowish mottling, throat dull yellow, diffusely mottled blackish, flight feathers dull brownish black, reduced white markings in wing and tail. Subspecies <em>meridensis</em> has upperparts , including uppertail coverts, black, back with some concealed yellow feathers, rump golden with a few black spots, belly yellow and always unspotted; uropygialis is similar to previous, but less yellow on rump, has black spots on side of abdomen, no concealed yellow feathers on back, female has more black on throat than other subspecies; <em>crissalis</em> differs very obviously from other subspecies in having yellow, not black, throat and chest and buffy white undertail coverts; <em>terminalis</em> is closest to meridensis, but few or no black markings on sides and flanks, white tips of greater wing coverts larger, interscapulars spotted yellow, has large white terminal (or subterminal) rounded spots (instead of small whitish transverse subterminal marks) on uppertail coverts, thigh yellow.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

May hybridize with Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster) in Ecuador, and genetic data indicate that the Black-backed Grosbeak may be paraphyletic with respect to latter (1 Pulgarín-R., P. C., B. T. Smith, R. W. Bryson, G. M. Spellman, and J. Klicka (2013). Multilocus phylogeny and biogeography of the New World Pheucticus grosbeaks (Aves: Cardinalidae). Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 69(3):1222–1227. Close ). Subspecies crissalis distinctive for its yellow versus black throat (3), but often with small black maculations, and its minor vocal difference (2 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 383. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ); no other distinctions apparent. Five subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Mostly dry to arid scrubby, often open, woodland; well-bushed gardens; and similar habitats. Generally in more arid locations than those favored by Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster), but the two may occur in same habitat locally. In La Rioja, in Argentina, found in humid scrub ravines, forest, and Chaco. Mostly 1,450–2,000 m, occasionally to 3,700 m, in Venezuela; 1,700–3,000 m in Colombia; and mostly 1,200–3,200 m in Peru; down to 600 m at southern end of range.

Most populations apparently sedentary; some evidence of movement at geographical ends of range, and possibly some altitudinal movement in northwestern Argentina and adjacent areas. Occurs in Mato Grosso (Brazil) and northern Paraguay but apparently does not breed; possibly some movements in Venezuela.

Diet includes berries, seeds, and insects. At Chía, in Colombia, seen to feed extensively on flowers and seeds of Polymnia pyramidalis in April during flowering period; insects less than 5% of stomach contents of specimens from same location. Usually solitary or in pairs, but several individuals may gather at favored fruiting trees; does not join mixed-species flocks. Forages mostly high up but also at all levels of forest, even on ground.

Song a rich, melodious series of whistled notes, similar to that of the Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster) but thinner; call a sharp keck.

Little published information. Birds with enlarged gonads at end of January (Cauca) and juvenile in November (Nariño) in Colombia; nest with eggs, nest with young, and one other pair feeding fledged chick on 18 December in Argentina, where nesting continues into January. The following details refer to nominate subspecies in Argentina. Nest a cup made from stalks of vines, lined with rootlets and fine fibers, external diameter 10–12 cm, cup diameter 5–7 cm, cup depth 5.5–6 cm; two nests 2.7 m and 3 m above ground in shrub. Clutch 2–3 eggs, greenish or clear blue, with fine brown spots concentrated at blunt end; information needed on incubation and fledging periods. Nests frequently preyed on by the Plush-crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops).

Not globally threatened. Uncommon or rare in Venezuela; locally common, though in small numbers, in Colombia; rare to locally common in Peru. Increasingly recorded in eastern Brazil, where range apparently expanding (3 Serpa, G. A., G. B. Malacco, A. Aleixo, B. Darski-Silva, and S. Madeira (2014). Range extension of the known distribution of the Black-backed Grosbeak, Pheucticus aureoventris (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae) in Brazil, with the first records for the states of Rondônia, Amazonas and Goiás. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 22(1):38–41. Close ). The Black-backed Grosbeak has been recorded near Socoroma (4 Johow, J. C. (2000). Primero registro de Pheucticus aureoventris (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) para Chile. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 7:34. Close ) and at the mouth of the Río Lluta (5 Miranda, L. (2000). Avistamiento de Pheucticus aureoventris (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) en la Desembocadura del Río Lluta, I Región de Chile. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 7:37. Close ), in northern Chile (Arica y Parinacota region), but its status there is not known. The latter record occurred during the "invierno boliviano," a phenomenon that can force species to move to the coast in search of better climatic conditions (5 Miranda, L. (2000). Avistamiento de Pheucticus aureoventris (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) en la Desembocadura del Río Lluta, I Región de Chile. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 7:37. Close ). The Black-backed Grosbeak is sometimes trapped for the cagebird trade. May cause damage to fruiting crops.