Birdsong field guide
Black-faced Grassquit
Melanospiza bicolor
A small, resilient tanager common throughout the Caribbean, characterized by the male's soot-black foreparts and both sexes' preference for foraging in grassy, open environments.
What it sounds like
A sharp, metallic 'tik' followed by a dry, buzzing trill reminiscent of a grasshopper.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Recent molecular phylogenetic studies led to its reclassification from the genus Tiaris to Melanospiza.
- It builds a conspicuous globular nest with a side entrance, typically situated in low shrubs or thick grass.
- The species is highly sexually dimorphic; males possess a black face and breast, while females are entirely dull olive-gray.
- These birds are opportunistic foragers that frequently utilize human-disturbed habitats such as roadsides and gardens.
- Though primarily granivorous, they supplement their diet with small fruits and occasional nectar or insects.
Habitat
Scrublands, pastures, forest edges, and cultivated gardens.
Range
The West Indies, including the Bahamas and Antilles, and coastal regions of northern South America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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