390

THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA  Euphonia laniirostris 10.5–11.5cm. Relatively

large, bulky, stout-billed euphonia of woodland, gardens, hedgerows, forest edge,

clearings with scattered trees; not a forest-based bird. See genus note (p. 388).

Male has more extensive yellow crown patch than Yellow-throated Euphonia.

Female rather plain yellowish green overall, cf. slightly smaller, smaller-billed

female Yellow-crowned Euphonia. Juv. resembles female; imm. male like female

with mostly male head pattern. SOUNDS:  Varied nasal and gurgling chirps,

plaintive whistles, squeaks, short wheezy phrases, and rolled trills, often repeated

every few secs or mixed into a prolonged song. Relatively bright, often slightly

plaintive whistled quality averages wheezier than Yellow-throated Euphonia, including twangy whistled

dwieh dwieh. STATUS: Fairly common on s. Pacific slope, to 1100m. (Costa Rica to S America.)

YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA  Euphonia hirundinacea 10–11cm. Forest

edge, gallery woodland, plantations, gardens, hedgerows. See genus note (p. 388).

Male shares yellow throat only with Thick-billed Euphonia, which see for

differences. Female told by pale grayish throat and median underparts. Juv.

resembles female. SOUNDS: Varied chips, squeaks, short gurgles and warbles, some

burry, often repeated every few secs or mixed into a prolonged song. Relatively

bright, often slightly plaintive whistled quality averages richer than Thick-billed

Euphonia, including slightly nasal jieh-jieh-jieh. STATUS: Fairly common from nw.

lowlands s. into Central Valley, to 1400m; scarce to locally uncommon

(increasing?) on Caribbean slope and s. Pacific slope. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA  Euphonia luteicapilla 9.5–10cm. Forest

edge, woodland, gardens, clearings with scattered trees, hedgerows. See genus

note (p. 388). Male best told by extensive yellow crown patch, also note lack of

white in tail, voice; cf. Spot-crowned and Scrub Euphonias. Female rather plain

yellowish green overall, cf. larger and slightly larger-billed female Thick-billed

Euphonia. SOUNDS: Varied, short wheezy whistled phrases, gurgles, tinkles,

burry rolls, nasal twangy whistles. Quality relatively plaintive or slightly wheezy;

common call a plaintive rising whistle in relatively slow-paced sets of 2 or 3,

wheein wheein wheein. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes,

locally to 1800m. (Honduras to Panama.)

SCRUB EUPHONIA  Euphonia affinis 9.5–10cm. Fairly small euphonia of dri-

er forest and edge, semi-open and open areas with fruiting trees, hedgerows,

gardens. See genus note (p. 388). Little or no overlap with potentially similar

species. Male White-vented favors humid forest, has richer yellow underparts

with white undertail coverts; larger Spot-crowned and Yellow-crowned Eupho-

nias lack white tail spots, have larger black bib. Female rather drab but distinc-

tive, with grayish crown, brighter yellow undertail coverts. SOUNDS: Varied

short squeaky, tinkling, and bubbling phrases, often fairly fast-paced; repeated

every few secs or mixed into a prolonged warbling song. Quality relatively high-

pitched, often slightly plaintive; common call a high, plaintive whistled dee-dee-dee. STATUS:  Fairly

common on n. Pacific slope, locally to 1100m in w. Central Valley. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

WHITE-VENTED EUPHONIA  Euphonia minuta 9–9.5cm. Very small eupho­

nia of humid forest canopy and edge, adjacent clearings with fruiting trees. See

genus note (p. 388). Small size evident when seen with other species; also note

relatively shallow pointed bill, white median belly and undertail coverts. Male has

richer yellow underparts than other black-throated euphonias; female distinctive,

with pale gray throat contrasting with yellow breast. SOUNDS:  Varied chips,

twangy warbles, plaintive whistles, and gurgles, repeated every few secs or mixed

into a chippering and warbling song. Quality relatively low-pitched and twangy;

calls include sharp, slightly smacking warbler-like chik! and bright, rising whítzi-

chik phrase often incorporated into songs. STATUS: Uncommon to scarce on both slopes, rarely to 1500m.

(Mexico to S America.)