Photo: LCSGeckoGal / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plushcap
Catamblyrhynchus diadema
Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 14.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Catamblyrhynchus
- Species diadema
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plushcap is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Plushcap is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) is a member of the Thraupidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Venezuelan mts. and Andes to nw Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.1 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 359,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plushcap?
The Plushcap is a very small bird that weighs around 14.1 g.
Where does the Plushcap live?
The Plushcap is found across South America with a range covering SA n Venezuelan mts. and Andes to nw Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Plushcap belong to?
The Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Plushcap eat?
The Plushcap is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Plushcap migrate?
The Plushcap is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plushcap endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Plushcap make?
1 real field recording of the Plushcap — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plushcap's range?
The Plushcap has a mapped global range of about 359,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.