The Olive-backed Euphonia, Euphonia gouldi, is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama.

The Olive-backed Euphonia is found in wet forests, tall second growth and adjacent bushy clearings, typically from sea level to 750 m altitude, sometimes up to 1000 m. The spherical cup nest, with a side entrance, is hidden amongst epiphytes or mosses 2-11 m high in a tree. The normal clutch is three brown-marked white eggs.

The adult Olive-backed Euphonia is 9.5 cm long and weighs 12g. The adult male has glossy olive upperparts, a yellow forehead, and a rufous belly surrounded by yellow. The adult female has less glossy upperparts than the male, a chestnut forehead, yellow underparts and a small rufous belly patch. Immatures are darker, duller, and have olive underparts.

The Olive-backed Euphonia occurs in small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. This species feeds mainly on small fruits.

The Olive-backed Euphonia's call is a metallic chrrr-chrrr, and the song is mixture of the call with clear or nasal whistles.

The scientific species name commemorates John Gould, the English ornithologist.

Images

Olive-backed Euphonia male in Tortuguero National Park - Costa Rica