Identification & Behavior: ~16 cm (6.2 in). The male Blue-Black Grosbeak is deeр blue with lighter blue around the base of the bill and shoulders.
The bill is very thick, blackish grading to silver at the base. The female is uniformly chestnut-brown with a blackish bill. The Blue-Black Grosbeak was formerly regarded as conspecific with the Amazonian Grosbeak. These two grosbeaks are very similar but their ranges do not overlap. The Blue-Black Grosbeak forages in the understory of humid, and semi-deciduous forests. It appears that it also expands its range to scrub habitats during the rainy season.
Status: The Blue-Black Grosbeak is uncommon in humid forest and scrub habitats in northwest Peru in Tumbes and Piura. It also occurs in Co and Ec.
Name in Spanish: Picogrueso Negro Azulado.
Sub-ѕрeсіeѕ: Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia cyanoides cyanoides), (Lafresnaye), 1847. N & W Colombia S (W of E Andes) to NW Peru (Tumbes).
Meaning of Name: Cyanoloxia: Gr. Kuanos= dагk-blue; and Loxia= A bird genus. The genus of crossbills. cyanoides: Gr. Cyanea= bluish, blue and oides= resembling.
Formerly known as Cyanocompsa cyanoides (2018)