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OLD WORLD SPARROWS (PASSERIDAE; 1 SPECIES) Old World family, one

species introduced to New York in 1850 and has spread widely in North and Central America.

Ages/sexes differ; resembles adult within 1–2 months, following complete molt.

HOUSE SPARROW  Passer domesticus 14–15cm. Human commensal found in

urban areas, adjacent farmland, along highways at truck stops, gas stations. In

pairs or small flocks, sometimes mixing with other birds but usually apart. Feeds

mainly on ground, often perches on buildings, utility poles; groups roost in dense

shrubbery. Handsome male distinctive; head and breast pattern veiled with paler

edgings in fresh plumage, bill mostly pale in nonbr. condition. Female rather

plain but no similar species in Costa Rica. Juv. resembles female, soon attains

adult appearance. SOUNDS: Varied, mostly rather tuneless chirps and chips, dry

chatters, churring calls. STATUS: Fairly common and widespread, especially in dri-

er areas, least numerous in humid tropical lowlands; mainly below 1500m. (Worldwide; native to Eurasia.)

MUNIAS (ESTRILDIDAE; 1 SPECIES) Small seed-eating ‘finches’ of Old World

origin. Populations derived from escaped cagebirds or releases are becoming established locally

in New World. Ages differ, sexes similar; attain adult appearance within a few months.

TRICOLORED MUNIA  Lonchura malacca 10–11cm. Small handsome ‘finch’ of

seeding grassy fields, rice fields, irrigation ditches, edges of cane fields. Often in

groups, in same areas as native seedeaters and migrant buntings, although flocks

often keep apart from other species; rather direct ‘barreling’ flight suggests small

compact House Sparrow. Adult (sexes similar) distinctive, with bold plumage pat-

tern, small size; juv. rather plain but note large pale bill, rather short and graduated

tail, voice. SOUNDS: Usually rather quiet; flight call a burry to twangy overslurred

nasal byehh, singly or in short series. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common but

local on Pacific slope and in nw. lowlands, to 1500m in Central Valley; first re-

corded Costa Rica in 1999 and range still expanding. (Native to India.)

FINCHES (FRINGILLIDAE; 12 SPECIES) Fairly large, almost worldwide family of

small, often colorful seed- and fruit-eating birds. Ages/sexes usually differ, juv. often like

female; attain adult appearance within 1st year. Calls and songs notably varied, sometimes

including mimicry.

YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN  Spinus xanthogastrus 10–11cm. Highland oak

forest and edge, adjacent clearings and second growth, weedy pastures with

scattered trees, hedgerows. Singles, pairs, or small groups feed from low in

seeding grasses to high in tree canopy. Note big yellow wing patch, cf. Lesser

Goldfinch. SOUNDS: Short metallic whistled notes, such as kleéih; low gruff

cheh, at times in short series. Song a rapid jangling medley, often with repetition

of notes and phrases; in bursts of 2–10 secs strung together with short breaks,

or prolonged to 20 secs or more; averages higher, more metallic, but also more

melodic, less buzzy than Lesser Goldfinch. STATUS: Uncommon and nomadic

in Central and Talamanca Mts. especially Pacific slope, mainly 800–2100m, locally to 3000m. Widely

reduced in numbers by trapping for cagebird trade. (Costa Rica to S America.)

LESSER GOLDFINCH  Spinus psaltria 9.5–10.5cm. Open and semi-open

country with scattered trees, hedgerows, gardens, weedy fields. Usually in small

flocks, feeding from low in seeding grasses to high in tree canopy. Note white wing

patch, cf. Yellow-bellied Siskin, lack of yellow forehead patch cf. male euphonias,

which favor humid lowlands. Juv. resembles female, with buffy wingbars, soon like

adult. SOUNDS: High, slightly whiny whistles, often downslurred or overslurred,

such as teeuu, about 0.5 secs; nasal chíeh. Song a varied, rapid jangling and

burbling warble, can include buzzy trills, occasional wheezy phrases, 2–20 or more

secs; averages buzzier, less jangling than Yellow-bellied Siskin. STATUS: Uncommon

to fairly common in Central and Talamanca Mts., adjacent Central Valley, mainly 1200–3000m; since

2010s, scarce and local in s. Pacific and nw. lowlands. (Mexico and w. US to nw. S America.)