Other Names (World)
Rusty Flowerpiercer, Rusty Flower-piercer, Rusty Flowerpecker
Family
Thraupidae (Tanagers)
Size
11 - 13 cm
First Described (Guide)
(D'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838)
Habitat
Subtropical and tropical montane moist forest, subtropical and tropical lowland moist shrubland, high altitude shrubland. From 1500 - 2500 m, occasionally up to 3,200 m.
Rusty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa sittoides) [XC264815]
by Niels Krabbe from Loja: Bosque de Hanne, 2 km WSW Utuana, Ecuador (song)
Rusty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa sittoides) [XC261134]
by Paul Coopmans from Pichincha: Tumbaco area, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Genus has sometimes been placed in Coerebidae or Parulidae or even, because of an apparent close relationship to Acanthidops, in Emberizidae. Molecular phylogenies indicate that it is most closely related to Xenodacnis and to Acanthidops, Haplospiza and Catamenia (the last three genera currently placed in Emberizidae), and that all clearly belong in present family. Members of this clade may also be closely related to the Oreomanes - Conirostrum clade. Forms a superspecies, and formerly considered conspecific, with Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer (Diglossa baritula) and Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea), genetic data suggesting that the three form a monophyletic group. Considerable variation occurs within as well as between subspecies.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
hyperythra Cabanis, 1850 - Northern Colombia (Santa Marta Mts) and northern Venezuela (cordillera from Carabobo east to Miranda).
coelestis Phelps & Phelps Jr, 1953 - Extreme western Venezuela in Perijá Mts.
dorbignyi (Boissonneau, 1840) - Andes of Venezuela (Lara south to Táchira) and Colombia (eastern slope of western Andes and both slopes of central and eastern ranges).
decorata Zimmer, JT, 1930 - Andes of Ecuador and Peru southern on both slopes to Bolivia.
sittoides (D'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838) - Bolivia and north-western Argentina (south to vicinity of Tucumán).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet