Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The chestnut-bellied euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis) is a species of bird in the family Fringillidae. It was formerly placed with the related Thraupidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The black-throated euphonia (“Euphonia vittata”) is now thought to be a hybrid between the chestnut-bellied euphonia and the orange-bellied euphonia.

The Chestnut-bellied Euphonia forms a superspecies with the Golden-sided Euphonia; both species possess golden feather tufts on their shoulders and are distinguished by the belly color, which is black in Golden-sided. As the name implies, euphonias are good singers. Chestnut-bellied Euphonia is quite an exception to the name, since its vocal repertoire seems to be largely made up by a series of harsh notes resembling the calls of allied species. The bulk of its distribution is encompassed by the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. It is not known to migrate and is commonly encountered in mixed species flocks together with Green-throated, Golden-rumped, Violaceus, and Purple-throated Euphonias. The diet of chestnut-bellied euphonia includes Small fruits, including those of melastomes, epiphytes, epiphytic cacti, Cecropia, palms, and Solanum. Not globally threatened and is classified as Least Concern by IUCN. Fairly common and widespread in SE Brazil and in extreme NE Argentina and E Paraguay.