Grassland yellow finch

Sicalis luteola

The grassland yellow finch is a small passerine bird. Despite its name, it is not a finch, but is a seedeater. These were formerly united with the buntings and American sparrows in the Emberizidae, but are now known to be tanagers.
Grassland yellow finch (Sicalis luteola) Pucchún, Arequipa, Peru. Mar 24, 2022 Fall,Geotagged,Grassland yellow finch,Peru,Sicalis luteola

Appearance

The grassland yellow finch is about 12 cm long and weighs 13 g. The males have bright yellow underparts and rump, and olive yellow upperparts. The crown and nape have dark streaking, and there is yellow around the eye. Females have dark-streaked pale brown upperparts and dull yellow underparts. The call is a sharp "te-tsip", and the male's song, given from a perch or in a display flight, is a series of chips, buzzes and trills.

Distribution

It is a resident in tropical South America, from Colombia south and east to the Guianas and central Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Birds which breed further south in Argentina and Uruguay migrate to Bolivia and southern Brazil,, in the austral winter. There are also isolated populations in Central America and Mexico. It was discovered on Trinidad in 2004, presumably having colonised from nearby Venezuela. Also known from Barbados, certainly since 1960 if not earlier.

Habitat

The grassland yellow finch, as its name implies, is found in fields and other open grassland. The female lays 3 brown-speckled pale blue-green eggs in a grassy cup nest in tall grass, and several pairs may breed close to each other in suitable areas.

Food

Grassland yellow finches eat seeds and insects, and are usually seen in pairs or small groups.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyThraupidae
GenusSicalis
SpeciesS. luteola
Photographed in
Peru