BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS, gi 
PHONIPARA BICOLOR. (Linn.) 
BLACK-FACED FINCH. 
Local Names. — Paroquet and Banana Bird. 
Winter Plumage, Male.— Above, olive-green, shading into black 
on the crown; cheeks and under parts totally black in the adult, and 
ranging from this to a black throat and greenish white belly in imma- 
ture birds; wings and tail, color of the back; upper mandible, dark; 
lower mandible, pale. 
Winter Plumage, Female.— Above, olive-green, lighter than the 
male; under parts, ashy, with a slight tinge of olive; otherwise, like 
the male. 
Length 4.30, wing 2.05, tail 1.85, tarsus .70, bill .37. 
This little Finch is abundant everywhere, and is very domestic in 
its habits. It seems to prefer living near the habitation of man, as it 
becomes far less common in uninhabited districts. The males differ 
greatly in plumage, some of them having the entire under parts 
black, while others have simply a black throat. I think the former 
represents the full plumage of an adult bird. Their note is a short, 
sharp “chip,” uttered while perched or fluttering among the bushes. 
Its food consists of insects, berries, and often fruit of varions kinds. 
This is the Passerculus bicolor bahamensis of Catesby. 
