Argentina (B), Bolivia (B), Brazil (B), Paraguay (B), Peru (B).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 10,000 - 19,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation through mechanised agriculture, intensive cattle-ranching, afforestation, invasive grasses, excessive use of pesticides and annual burning, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A very high-pitched, insect-like 'prrirítch'.
Black-masked Finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis) [XC707363]
by Robson Silva e Silva from Pomp\u00e9u, Minas Gerais, Brazil (song)
Black-masked Finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis) [XC345628]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Ibertioga, Minas Gerais, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
This species most likely belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae). Aspects of plumage, tail shape, juvenile plumage and song suggest that it may be related to Embernagra and Emberizoides.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
marajoara Sick, 1967 - Marajó I (mouth of R Amazon in Pará), in northern Brazil.
melanotis (Temminck, 1822) - Extreme south-eastern Peru (Madre de Dios), eastern Bolivia (La Paz and Beni), central and east-central Brazil (eastern Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul east to Minas Gerais and Sío Paulo), eastern Paraguay, and north-eastern Argentina (Corrientes).
Similar Species
Female resembles Emberizoides grass-finches, but its shorter tail is white tipped.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet