Thanks Jon...now I'll have to re-check all my Sicalis pictures.
Do you know were I can get (o borrow) the book in Peru?

Rodrigo

--- In Birdingperu@yahoogroups.com, Jon Fjeldså <JFjeldsaa@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Rodrigo
> The differences are described in detail in Birds of the High Andes. This text
is based on a large material as >1000 specimens were examined to define
differences. All the species you mention are very similar in shape, including
relative length of wing-tips and tail, but olivascens differ from the rest by a
more arched culmen ridge of the bill, which forms a continuous curve with the
crown; this species is also larger than the others, and luteola and raimondii
smaller, and luteola has the smallest, rather stubby bill.
> There is a large variation in plumage within each species, according to age,
wear of the plumage and (especially in flaveola) subspecies. One of the few
constant differences is the colour of the pale edges of the remiges (= the pale
wing panel of primaries and secondaries). These are olive in olivascens,
olive-yellow in flaveola, but pale brown in luteola and more greyish in
raimondii. This holds true in all plumages. The orange colour on the face of
flaveola is not prominent in all plumages (it can be covered by greyish
feather-tips in fresh plumage, especially in subspecies koenigi and pelzelni;
and is absent in juveniles) and luteola may also have a tinge of orange; thus
this character is not reliable.
> Best
> Jon Fjeldså
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Birdingperu@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Birdingperu@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Rodrigo
> Sent: 8. juni 2009 19:54
> To: Birdingperu@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Birdingperu] Field marks for Sicalis
>
>
>
>
>
> Can some of you help with a couple of good field marks to separate S. flaveola
from S. luteola, S. raimondii and S. olivascens?
>
> If I see one (at least in Lima) I always imagine it's S. flaveola and the red
face is my main physical characteristic to look for, but I know the they have
brownish and greenish feather and that makes them too similar to the other.
>
> Any help?
>
>
>
> Rodrigo
>