Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Emberizidae Scientific name Atlapetes blancae | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Atlapetes Rank Species | |
Similar Vilcabamba brush finch, Slaty brush finch, Dusky‑headed brush finch, Grey‑eared brush finch, Rufous‑eared brush finch | ||
The Antioquia brush finch (Atlapetes blancae) is a poorly known species from the Emberizidae family. It was scientifically described in 2007 on basis of three museum specimens from Antioquia, Colombia, which were previously labelled as slaty brush finches (Atlapetus schistaceus). The specific epithet blancae refers to the whitish underparts of the new species, while also commemorating the Colombian lepidopterologist Blanca Huertas, the wife of ornithologist Thomas M. Donegan (who described the species). All three museum skins were collected in the 20th century, but only one label has a date, which is given as 1971. Subsequent fieldwork in Antioquia has failed to find this species again. The species description has been approved by the South American Classification Committee. It has been recommended for a critically endangered status.