The ultramarine grosbeak (''Cyanoloxia brissonii'') is a species of

grosbeak Grosbeak is a form taxon containing various species of seed-eating passerine birds with large beaks. Although they all belong to the superfamily Passeroidea, these birds are not part of a natural group but rather a polyphyletic assemblage of dist ...

in the family

Cardinalidae Cardinalidae (often referred to as the "cardinal-grosbeaks" or simply the "cardinals") is a family of New World-endemic passerine birds that consists of cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. It also includes several birds such as the tanager-like ...

. It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats in eastern and central

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

, with a disjunct population in northern South America.

Description

These birds are 15 cm long. The adult male exhibits a dark-blue plumage with bright-blue upper-wings. The females and the juveniles are brown. The ultramarine grosbeak is territorial; it doesn't fly in flocks. If a male invades the territory of another, for sure there will be a conflict with some violence.

Distribution and habitat

They inhabit the edge of swamps, secondary forests and plantations. The native range of these birds extends from Northeast and central Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay to Argentina. The also can be found northern Venezuela and Colombia. There are some morphological differences between subspecies from different regions.

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

It takes place between September and February, builds its nest not far from the ground and each clutch usually has between 2 and 3 eggs. The chicks are born between 13 and 15 days after the eggs are laid.

Feeding

Feeds on seeds, fruits and insects.

References