The Story
The shot
I photographed this Dull-colored Grassquit (Asemospiza obscura) at Finca Ecoturística San Javier, in the vereda Chucuní near Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. It is found from Colombia and Venezuela south along the Andes and their foothills to Bolivia, Paraguay and northwestern Argentina. It feeds mainly on seeds, foraging alone or in pairs on or near the ground at forest edges, in scrub and in overgrown pastures. Both sexes are plain, dull olive-brown, with a two-toned bill that is darker above and paler below. Formerly placed in the genus Tiaris, it now shares the genus Asemospiza with the Sooty Grassquit. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I used a Canon R5 with the RF 800mm f/11 for this one, at 1/90 sec, f/11, ISO 1600, −0.5 EV. Finca San Javier offers guided birding as part of its work to help conserve tropical dry forest.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Dull-colored Grassquit (Asemospiza obscura) belongs to the family Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List
