Habitat
Subtropical and tropical high altitude shrubland. Also, subtropical and tropical high altitude grassland and lowland dry shrubland. From sea-level - 4,000 m.
Ash-breasted Sierra Finch (Geospizopsis plebejus) [XC259886]
by John V. Moore from Pichincha: 2 km E of Calacal\u00ed, Ecuador (song)
Ash-breasted Sierra Finch (Geospizopsis plebejus) [XC259887]
by John V. Moore from Chimborazo: Laguna de Colta, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Molecular-genetic studies indicate that genus belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae). Recent molecular data suggest a sister relationship between this species and Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor), but distant relationship to other members of genus. Further, the two appear to be part of a clade that includes also Haplospiza and Catamenia (relationship with Haplospiza suggested by early authors on basis of similarities in plumage, as well as structure). Along with Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) should probably be placed together in separate genus, and Geospizopsis can be resurrected for them.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
ocularis Sclater, PL, 1859 - Andes of Ecuador south to northern Peru (north of Marañón Valley).
plebejus (Tschudi, 1844) - Andes of Peru (south of Marañón Valley), northern Chile (south to Antofagasta) and western Bolivia south to north-western and west-central Argentina (to Mendoza).
naroskyi Nores & Yzurieta, 1983 - North-central Argentina (Sierra de Córdoba).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet