Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

eBird gives this description for the Yellow-faced Grassquit:  Very small bird of grassy and weedy areas in tropical and subtropical areas. Male is striking, with rich yellow eyebrow and throat set off by a black face and breast; extent of black on breast variable (less extensive on Cozumel Island birds). Female is notably drab olive overall but shows a ghosting of male’s face pattern; note the conical gray bill, unlike the stubby bill of seedeaters and female buntings.

The Birds of the World website introduces the Yellow-faced Grassquit with this descriptive information: The Yellow-faced Grassquit is a small grayish-green finch that occurs from southeastern Mexico south to northern South America, and throughout the Greater Antilles. It is a common species that occurs in open grassy fields, pastures, roadsides, and clearings. Grassquits often travel in loose flocks, sometimes associating with other species, and primarily forage on grass seeds. In view of the relative abundance and large geographic distribution, the conservation status of the Yellow-faced Grassquit is assessed as of “Least Concern.”

I met, and photographed, my first Yellow-faced Grassquit on the morning of Monday, February 12, 2023 in Costa Rica. Our birding group with Tropical Birding Tours was at a meadow called the “Rest Area” at Curi-Cancha Reserve in Monteverde when we spotted this bird briefly perched in a tree.  A unique little bird!