The rufous-backed Inca finch (Incaspiza personata) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is endemic to Peru.
Taxonomy and systematics
The great Inca finch was formally described in 1895 with the binomial Haemophila personata. It was later reassigned to its present genus Incaspiza that had been erected in 1898. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that Incaspiza belonged in the tanager family Thraupidae. Some mid-twentieth century authors treated the rufous-backed Inca finch, the great Inca finch (I. pulchra), and the grey-winged Inca finch (I. ortizi) as conspecific, and others treated them as a superspecies.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 25 July 2026 However, they are very distinct genetically.
The rufous-backed Inca finch is monotypic.
Description
The rufous-backed Inca finch is long and weighs . It has a long tail and a slim pointed bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly gray head with a brown cast on the nape, blackish lores, and a blackish mask and throat. Their upperparts are mostly rufous that is somewhat grayer on the rump. Their wings are mostly rufous with gray outer median and greater coverts and browner basal halves of the tertials. Their tail is black with white edges on the outer feathers. Their breast is gray, their flanks buffy gray, and their belly and vent off-white. They have a brown iris, a bright yellow bill, and orange-yellow legs and feet.Jaramillo, A. (2020). Rufous-backed Inca-Finch (Incaspiza personata), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rbifin1.01 retrieved August 6, 2026
Distribution and habitat
The rufous-backed Inca finch is found in north-central Peru in the upper valley of the Marañón River and on the western slope of the Andes. It ranges from southern Cajamarca Department south to southeastern Ancash and southwestern Huánuco departments. It inhabits dry slopes with cacti, agave, and the large bromeliad Puya raimondii. In elevation it ranges between .
Behavior Movement
The rufous-backed Inca finch is a sedentary year-round resident.
Feeding
The rufous-backed Inca finch's diet has not been studied. It forages on the ground, typically singly or in pairs.
Breeding
The rufous-backed Inca finch's breeding season includes March to June but nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.
Vocalization
The rufous-backed Inca finch's song is "a weak, high tisew-ti’TSWEE?". Its calls include "high tseet notes".
Status
The IUCN has assessed the rufous-backed Inca finch as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known but is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered uncommon.
References