The yellow-breasted brushfinch (Atlapetes latinuchus) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru..
Taxonomy and systematics
The yellow-breasted brushfinch has a complicated taxonomic history. It was formally described in 1855 with the binomial Buarremon latinuchus. During much of the twentieth century its several subspecies were treated as part of what was then called the "rufous-naped brushfinch" (A. rufinucha sensu lato). Since their separation A. rufinucha has been called the Bolivian brushfinch.
Most taxonomic systems assign the yellow-breasted brushfinch these eight subspecies:
A. l. elaeoprorus (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1879)
A. l. yariguierum Donegan & Huertas, 2006
A. l. caucae Chapman, 1927
A. l. spodionotus (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1879)
A. l. comptus (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1879)
A. l. latinuchus (Du Bus de Gisignies, 1855)
A. l. chugurensis Chapman, 1927
A. l. baroni (Salvin, 1895)
However, as of February 2026 the independent South American Classification Committee retains what the other systems call the black-fronted brushfinch (A. nigrifrons) as a ninth subspecies, but is seeking a proposal to reevaluate the decision.
Some authors have called Atlapetes latinuchus the "northern rufous-naped brushfinch" or the "cloud-forest brushfinch".
Description
The yellow-breasted brushfinch is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs about 16 to 31 g (0.56 to 1.1 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies A. l. latinuchus have a rufous to orange-rufous stripe from the forehead to the nape. Their face is black with a wide yellow lower cheek and a thin black line below it. Their upperparts are dark slate gray. Their wings are slightly blacker with white bases on the primaries. Their tail is blackish with olive feather edges. Their throat, breast, and belly are bright yellow with a slight olivaceous wash on the sides of the breast and the...
