Bird GuideNew World SparrowsBlack-faced Grassquit
Black-faced Grassquit
Melanospiza bicolor

At a Glance

Widespread in the Caribbean region is this dark, stubby little finch. Black-faced Grassquits live in brushy fields, clearings, and the edges of woods, often gathering in small flocks. Common in the Bahamas, they have strayed to Florida on several occasions.
Category
Perching Birds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Direct Flight, Flitter

Range & Identification

Description

4 1/2" (10 cm). Very small, with stubby bill. Male has mostly black head and underparts, dark olive back. Female and young birds are mostly plain, pale gray, darker olive on the back.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Wing Shape
Broad
Tail Shape
Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

“Tik-zeee” or “Tik-zeee-zeee”