Habitat
Subtropical and tropical moist montane forest, subtropical and tropical heavily degraded former forest, subtropical and tropical high altitude shrubland, inland wetlands. From 1,400 - 2,000 m, occasionally up to 2,600 m.
Yellow-whiskered Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus parvirostris) [XC183319]
by Niels Krabbe from Huancabamba, Piura, Peru (call, song)
Yellow-whiskered Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus parvirostris) [XC10841]
by Oswaldo Cortes from Pillahuata, Manu Road, Peru (call)
Subspecies
Recent molecular-genetic studies indicate that this genus and Nesospingus, Spindalis and Phaenicophilus form a monophyletic clade that is sister to several New World warbler (Parulidae) genera (including Dendroica, Basileuterus and Vermivora), and are not closely related to other genera of present family. More recent evidence suggests that Chlorospingus is closest to genus Arremonops in family Emberizidae. This species was originally considered a subspecies of Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus flavigularis), but subsequently separated on basis of size, plumage and elevational distribution.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
huallagae Carriker, 1933 - Eastern slope of eastern Andes from Colombia (Cundinamarca and Meta) south through Ecuador to north-western Peru (La Libertad).
medianus Zimmer, JT, 1947 - Eastern slope of Andes in central Peru (Junín and Urubamba regions).
parvirostris Chapman, 1901 - Eastern slope of Andes in south-eastern Peru and adjacent Bolivia.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet