Habitat
Subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forest, subtropical and tropical swamp forest. From sea-level - 2,300 m, occasionally up 2,500 m.
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) [XC259592]
by John V. Moore from Loreto: R\u00edo Sucusari ('ACEER', 'Explornapo'), left (n) bank of R\u00edo Napo near mouth, Peru (call)
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) [XC259590]
by John V. Moore from Sucumb\u00edos: 'La Selva Jungle Lodge', n bank R\u00edo Napo, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Recent molecular-genetic analysis indicates that genus belongs in family Fringillidae. May form a superspecies with Tawny-capped Euphonia (Euphonia anneae). Described taxon Euphonia vittata believed to have been a hybrid between present species and Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis). Nominate subspecies, geographically remote from all others, may be better kept apart as a monoptypic species. Among other subspecies, geographical differences in voice, in particular of western Amazonian dilutior and brunneifrons when compared with Andean subspecies, suggest that more than a single species may be involved. In contrast, proposed subspecies lecroyana (described from R Chiquito in Táchira, Venezuela) is better lumped with badissima due to minimal differences. Several other subspecies are poorly differentiated and seem barely recognizable. A thorough taxonomic review required. Subspecies oressinoma intergrades with badissima in northern Colombia (west of Ocaña, in Norte de Santander).
The following 11 subspecies are recognised:
chocoensis Hellmayr, 1911 - Extreme eastern Panama (Cerro Pirre, Altos de Quía, Cerro Sapo and R Jaqué) and Pacific Colombia west of Andes (southern from Chocó) south to north-western Ecuador (northern Esmeraldas, Imbabura).
quitensis (Nelson, 1912) - Western Ecuador (southern from Pichincha) and north-western Peru.
exsul von Berlepsch, 1912 - North-eastern Colombia (Boyacá; northern end of Sierra de Perijá), and northern cordilleras of Venezuela from Carabobo east to Miranda (Cerro Negro) and northern Monagas (Caripe).
badissima Olson, 1981 - Perijá Mts (Colombia-Venezuela border) and Andes of Venezuela (Lara south to Táchira) and adjacent Colombia (Norte de Santander and Boyacá).
oressinoma Olson, 1981 - Western and central Andes of Colombia (and once on western slope of eastern Andes in Santander).
brevirostris Bonaparte, 1851 - Eastern Colombia (upper Magdalena Valley; generally east of Andes from Norte de Santander south to Meta) south to eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru (west of Ucayali Valley), east to southern Venezuela, central Guyana and north-western Brazil (R Uaupés, Tahuapunto).
dilutior (Zimmer, JT, 1943) - South-eastern Colombia and north-eastern Peru (Ucayali Valley).
cyanonota Parkes, 1969 - Western and central Brazil from R Juruá (Joío Pessoa; Lago Grande) and R Purús to R Tapajós.
brunneifrons Chapman, 1901 - South-eastern Peru (Cuzco and Puno).
ruficeps d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837 - Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba).
xanthogaster Sundevall, 1834 - Coastal eastern Brazil (central Bahia south to central Rio de Janeiro).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet