Moustached brushfinch

The moustached brushfinch (Atlapetes albofrenatus) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae.

It is found in northern Colombia, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and heavily degraded former forest.

Like most Atlapetes species, the moustached brushfinch is a large-headed, long-tailed New World sparrow.

Adult. Adults are between 17.5 and 18cm in length, and weigh approximately 30g. Their upper parts are mostly olive green, with the primaries and tail being black tinged with olive. The breast, belly and vent are deep yellow, while the flanks are yellow with a greenish wash.

The species has a striking head pattern, with a bright chestnut-rufous cap and nape, black forehead, and an all black mask extending from the lores to the nape. The throat and malar stripes are white, separated by black submalars. In some poses the white malar stripe can be seen to extend almost to the nape.

The bill is black, the irises are red or reddish brown, and the tarsi and toes are brownish grey or pinkish grey.

Juvenile. Brownish olive above, dusky olive yellowish below with faint streaking. The moustachial area is dull yellow with a weakly formed malar stripe. The mask and sides of the head are duller blackish or dusky, and the crown is olive to brownish olive (not chestnut).

Similar species. The plumage of the merida brushfinch of Venezuela is distinguished from that of the moustached brushfinch by its yellow throat, a lighter crown described as cinnamon-rufous, a broader white malar stripe with a narrow black submalar, and a much narrower area of black on the forehead.