Cigarra-parda Asemospiza obscura

This well-named little bird is found in the Andean foothills and adjacent lowlands from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Males and females are both equally drab, entirely medium brown with no distinctive markings. In most of range bill is bicolored, but in central and northern Colombia has an all dark bill. Very similar to females of several other seedeater and grassquit species, but in most of range note Dull-colored Grassquit’s bicolored bill. Uncommon and sometimes tricky to find as it forages inconspicuously in shrubbery at the forest edge or in gardens and second growth. Usually in pairs or small flocks. Listen for buzzy sputtering song that seems rushed.