<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360503'>Green-throated Euphonia

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Euphonia chalybea
  • Spanish Name: Eufonia gorgiverde
  • Family: Fringillidae
  • Known Nicknames: Green-throated Euphonia
  • Average Length: 11 cm / 4.3 in
  • Average Weight: 14–16 g / 0.49–0.56 oz
  • Wingspan: 18–20 cm / 7.1–7.9 in
  • Key Feature: Bright yellow underparts and green throat in male; female olive-green above with yellow belly
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore (especially mistletoe berries)
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina (Misiones)
  • Habitat: Humid Atlantic Forest, forest edges, and secondary growth
  • Social Structure: Often in pairs or small groups, sometimes mixed-species flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Domed nest built in tree forks, often among epiphytes
  • Statut de conservation : Quasi menacé (NT)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Green-throated Euphonia (*Euphonia chalybea*) is a dazzling songbird of South America’s Atlantic Forest, renowned for its vivid, metallic sheen. The male is a striking combination of deep steel-blue upperparts and a brilliant yellow belly, but its most unique feature is the namesake, iridescent green throat that glows like emerald in sunlight. Females are more subdued, with olive-green upperparts and a yellowish underside. A special trait of this species is its short, stubby bill, perfectly adapted for plucking mistletoe berries—its primary food source—which it digests and disperses, playing a vital ecological role. Its cheerful, whistled song and acrobatic feeding behavior make it a lively presence in the canopy, though habitat loss has made it a near-threatened gem of the forest.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the male Green-throated Euphonia has a throat that actually appears more of a rich, dark blue in direct sunlight, a trick of iridescence rather than true pigment. They are masterful mimics, often incorporating the calls of other Amazonian birds into their own complex songs, sometimes to confuse rivals or attract mates. Their beaks are uniquely adapted for a specialized diet: they are among the few birds that can efficiently pry open the hard, woody berries of the *Loranthaceae* mistletoe, and they then wipe the sticky seeds onto branches, inadvertently planting their own future food sources.

Habitats et répartition

The Green-throated Euphonia is found in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern South America, primarily occurring in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina (Misiones Province). Its preferred habitat consists of humid lowland and montane forests, including primary forest, mature secondary growth, and forest edges, typically ranging from sea level up to about 1,000 meters in elevation. The species is often associated with mistletoe plants, which provide a key food source, and it frequents the canopy and subcanopy layers of these dense, wooded environments.

Comportements & Reproduction

Socially, this species is often observed in pairs or small family groups, maintaining loose associations within their forest habitat. Mating is presumed to be monogamous for the breeding season, with males performing a soft, buzzy song and visual displays to attract a mate. The female constructs a domed nest with a side entrance, typically hidden in dense foliage or epiphytes. A unique reproductive strategy involves the male contributing to feeding the female during incubation and both parents provisioning the young, which is relatively cooperative for a tanager relative. Clutch size is usually two to three eggs, and there is no evidence of cooperative breeding or brood parasitism within their known range.

Alimentation

The Green-throated Euphonia is primarily a frugivore, with its diet dominated by small, soft fruits, especially those from mistletoe plants (Loranthaceae), which make up a significant portion of its intake. Interestingly, they play a crucial role in dispersing mistletoe seeds, as they swallow the fruit whole and later expel the sticky seeds onto tree branches. They also consume other berries and small fruits, and during breeding season, they will supplement their diet with small insects and spiders to provide extra protein for their chicks. A notable behavioral fact is that they have been observed hanging upside down to reach fruits on slender branches, showcasing their agility while foraging.

Couleurs

The male Green-throated Euphonia has a striking pattern: a deep metallic blue-black head, back, wings, and tail contrast sharply with a bright yellow underside and a vivid green throat patch. The female is more subdued, with olive-green upperparts, a yellowish belly, and a paler, grayish throat. A unique feature is the male’s iridescent blue sheen on its dark plumage, which can appear to shift color in sunlight. No specific camouflage adaptations are noted; its bright colors likely serve for social and mating displays within the forest canopy.

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