- Hesperiphona abeillei
Coccothraustes abeillei
Identification
6.7-7.2in (17-18.5cm)
Males have completely black head, throat, wings (with whitish patch), and tail. Bill very heavy, pale greenish.
Females have black caps and lores; wings (with pale grey patch) and tail black; outer tail feathers partly white tipped.
Distribution
Central America: rare and local resident in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala.
Taxonomy
Some authorities now place this species in the genus Coccothraustes[1].
Subspecies[1]
- C. a. pallidus:
- Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico (Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango)
- C. a. saturatus:
- Mountains of eastern Mexico (San Luis Potosí and south-western Tamaulipas)
- C. a. abeillei:
- Mountains of central and southern Mexico
- C. a. cobanensis:
Habitat
Cloud forest, humid pine-oak or fir forest, lush gardens, partial clearings, borders at higher elevation
Behaviour
Occurs in pairs or small groups, locally in flocks of 50+ in winter, often seen flying high overhead, calling.
Diet
Feeds quietly at mid to upper levels.
Breeding
Nest at mid to upper levels in trees.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Hooded Grosbeak. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Hooded_Grosbeak
