Central and eastern Brazil from southern Mato Grosso, south-eastern Pará and central Maranhío south to Goiás, Piauí, western Bahia and western and central Minas Gerais, and eastern and southern Bolivia (eastern Beni and south-eastern Santa Cruz, probably also Chuquisaca).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation through conversion to agriculture for Eucalyptus plantations, soybeans and pasture for exportable crops, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Blue Finch (Porphyrospiza caerulescens) [XC38079]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Serra do Cip\u00f3, MG, Brazil (call)
Blue Finch (Porphyrospiza caerulescens) [XC309755]
by Jerome Fischer from Parque Nacional da Serra do Cip\u00f3, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Often placed in family Cardinalidae because of resemblance to Passerina, and has sometimes been included in that genus. Molecular data suggest that its closest relative may be Band-tailed Sierra-Finch (Corydospiza alaudina) and that both belong with the tanagers (Thraupidae). These two species are united by structure, bill shape, some aspects of coloration, and song, and both should probably be shifted to a new genus, for which the name Corydospiza is available (and which has priority over present genus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet