The Carrizal seedeater (Amaurospiza carrizalensis) is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is endemic to Venezuela.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Carrizal seedeater was described based on three specimens collected in 2001. The researchers who determined that it was a new species, Miguel Lentino and Robin L. Restall, named it Carrizal blue seedeater, but the "blue" was dropped by taxonomic organizations to avoid conflict with what was then the blue seedeater (Amaurospiza concolor).
Description
The Carrizal seedeater is long and weighs . The male is a glossy dark slaty blue that is darker on the face and underparts. The female's upperparts are warm brown and the underparts yellow-buff, darker on the flanks.
Distribution and habitat
The specimens of Carrizal seedeater were collected on Isla Carrizal in the Caroni River of northern Venezuela. Construction of the Tocoma Dam, which began in 2006, flooded the island. The species has since been found elsewhere in the Caroni River watershed. It is known only from stands of spiny Guadua and Ripidocladus species of bamboo in deciduous forest.