Image via Macaulay Library
Santa Marta Brushfinch
- Scientific name
- Atlapetes melanocephalus
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Habitat
- Forest mixed
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Santa Marta brushfinch, Atlapetes melanocephalus, is an endemic passerine restricted to the humid forests and shrubby paramo edges of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. This species was formally described by the ornithologist Osbert Salvin and Frederick DuCane Godman in 1880, during a period of intense biological exploration of South American avifauna. Its evolution has been shaped by the isolation of the Santa Marta mountain range, resulting in a distinct lineage that thrives at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters.
Physically, the brushfinch is characterized by a rounded wing shape and a distinctly notched tail, adaptations that serve its life within dense montane undergrowth. The design of its plumage, featuring a dark head contrasted against olive-green upperparts and yellow underparts, offers camouflage in the complex light conditions of its cloud-forest habitat. While it has remained a subject of interest for field ornithologists and conservationists concerned with the ecological health of the Sierra Nevada, it is primarily appreciated for its specialized niche within one of the world's most unique biodiversity hotspots.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Santa Marta Brushfinch
Santa Marta Brushfinch is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Santa Marta Brushfinch on collecto.rs?
Santa Marta Brushfinch doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Santa Marta Brushfinch?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Santa Marta Brushfinch catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Santa Marta Brushfinch is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
