About Sturnella bellicosa Filippi, 1847
The Peruvian meadowlark, currently classified under the scientific name Leistes bellicosus (original published name Sturnella bellicosa Filippi, 1847), is a bird species belonging to the Icteridae family. It is native to western Peru, Ecuador, and the far northern region of Chile. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry shrublands, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrublands, intertidal marshes, and pasturelands, all of which are typically located around 1,000 metres above sea level. Adult males have streaky brown plumage with a bright red throat and chest. Females have duller overall colouration and more prominent streaked patterning than males. Members of this species reach a total length of 20 cm, and have a distinctive bobbing flight pattern similar to that of a woodpecker. Their diet consists mostly of insects, though they will also occasionally eat seeds.
