Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Tiaris
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus

Michelle Torok and Kevin J. Burns
Version: 1.0 — Published January 7, 2011

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Vocalizations

The song of the Yellow-faced Grassquit is a rapid buzzy trill, which often is described as weak and insect-like (e.g., Hilty and Brown 1986, Howell and Webb 1995). Grant et al. (2000) also reported a short buzz, with a maximum frequency of 12 kHz and preceded by a short loud note. In Panama singing is seasonal, and begins with the onset of the wet season; singing is most frequent when the grassquit is nesting, but "continues until the rains end many months later" (Wetmore et al. 1984).  The song is given from a low perch, such as on a stem of tall grass or atop a low shrub. Sometimes several males sing from the same shrub (Skutch 1954, Stiles and Skutch 1989). When courting a female, the male rapidly vibrates the wings while singing as perched a few cm from the female (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

The calls of the Yellow-faced Grassquit include a "high, slightly sharp sik or tsi" (Howell and Webb 1995).

Nonvocal Sounds

None reported.

Recommended Citation

Torok, M. and K. J. Burns (2011). Yellow-faced Grassquit (Tiaris olivaceus), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.yefgra1.01