Species restricted to the northwestern Andes, 16–18 cm long, with a thick and pointed bill. Male: black hood, wings, and tail; ochre-orange mantle; orange chest grading to yellow; and white undertail. Female: similar but duller, with a slate-gray hood, paler orange back, and yellowish belly with finely streaked throat. Both have brown irises and dark gray legs. Juveniles are brownish, duller, and show a pale gray hood. It may be confused with the Andean Sierra Finch (P. gayi), with which it overlaps in parts of northwestern Argentina; however, the Black-hooded male is unmistakable due to its black hood instead of gray. The female Andean has a more extensive white belly.
Distribution: Species of the dry Andean puna, from southern Peru, western Bolivia, and northern Chile, to northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja, and high areas of San Juan) in high Andean environments. Typical elevation 2,500–4,000 m, locally lower in winter.
Habitat: High-altitude arid shrublands, rocky slopes, hillsides with cacti, high Andean ravines, edges of peatlands, and semi-humid areas surrounded by shrubs. Common in Andean human settlements and exotic tree plantings in high-altitude towns.
Behavior: Confiding, usually in pairs or small groups; in winter it may join mixed flocks. Perches on exposed rocks and shrubs. Forages mainly on the ground, walking or hopping among rocks and cacti. Males sing a short, monotonous series of metallic notes.
Diet: Omnivorous. Eats seeds, shoots, and arthropods. Forages on the ground, low shrubs, or human structures. May join mixed groups with siskins and warbling finches.
Breeding: Nest placed in shrubs or rocks, an open cup made of small sticks, stems, and grasses, with an interior of wool, hair, and fine fibers.
Conservation status: Species not considered threatened. Common in the puna and high Andean environments.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025