The Story
I photographed this juvenile Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) in Santandercito, in San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The species is a year-round resident. Its nest is a globe with a side entrance, usually well hidden in a cavity, among epiphytes and vines or in a branch fork. Both sexes build it, typically within about 3 meters of the ground. It feeds mainly on mistletoe fruit and other small fruits, and often forages in pairs or small groups. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I used a Canon R5 with the RF 800mm f/11 for this one, at 1/250 sec, f/11, ISO 3200. The Festival Internacional Aves Tequendama, held each year in nearby La Mesa, includes birding routes in San Antonio del Tequendama.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) belongs to the family Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, 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 2020), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List