Bird
Bird
Sooty Grassquit
Tiaris fuliginosus
The Sooty Grassquit is a small, dark seedeater of Trinidad's forest edge and grassy clearings, less familiar than the widespread Blue-black Grassquit but recognisable by the male's smoky grey-black plumage and thin, insect-like song.
The Sooty Grassquit is a small, dark seedeater of Trinidad's forest edge and grassy clearings, less familiar than the widespread Blue-black Grassquit but recognisable by the male's smoky grey-black plumage and thin, insect-like song.
Identification
A small finch around 10 to 11 cm long. Males are sooty grey-black overall with a slightly paler belly; females and immatures are duller olive-brown, less strikingly patterned than the male. It is similar in shape to the more familiar Blue-black Grassquit but lacks that species' glossy blue-black sheen and jumping display flight.
Behaviour
Forages on the ground and in low vegetation at forest edge, grassy clearings, and secondary growth, feeding mainly on small grass and forb seeds. It is generally inconspicuous, moving in pairs or small groups, and its song is a very thin, high, insect-like series of notes easily overlooked among louder forest sounds.
Status in T&T
Present in forest edge and grassy clearings across Trinidad, generally uncommon and locally distributed compared to the abundant Blue-black Grassquit. Not considered threatened. It is protected as native wildlife under the Conservation of Wildlife Act.
