Other Common Names: Misto, Golden Button, Saffron Finch, Saffron-crowned Finch, Little Goldfinch, Yellow Sparrow.
Subspecies:
Sicalis flaveola flaveola: (Linnaeus, 1766). Nominal ssp. Found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Sicalis flaveola pelzelni: (Sclater, 1872). This subspecies is found in Uruguay and most of Argentina, except for the Andean region, Santa Cruz, and the Falkland Islands.
Sicalis flaveola valida: (Bangs and Penard, T. 1921). Found in Ecuador and Northern Peru.
Sicalis flaveola koenigi: (Hoy, 1978). Found in Argentina (Western Salta and Jujuy).
Sicalis flaveola brasiliensis: (Gmelin, J. 1789). Found in northern Argentina (Misiones) and Brazil.
Description: 12 cm, the male is yellow with black wings, back, and tail with slight olive tones. The species shows orange hues on the front and face, which helps to distinguish it from other species of the same genus. The female is lighter grayish on the belly with dark streaks on the chest and back, and juveniles are similar to females.
Sexual Dimorphism: Very noticeable and easily distinguishable by the male´s golden yellow color. Young males tend to have small yellow spots on their chest, but it is difficult to sex them when they are very young.
Habitat: Forests, rural areas, and settlements (common in parks and urban reserves).
Geographic Distribution: Widely distributed in Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Behavior: Males have a melodious song (which makes them a highly captured species for the pet trade). Outside of the breeding season, they form large flocks, sometimes even with other species like the Chingolos (Z. capensis) and Mists (S. luteola). They are quite arboreal but are often seen on the ground feeding.
Nesting: Builds its nest with dry grasses and feathers, which it molds into cavities like holes in tree trunks, posts, and even abandoned nests of horneros (F. rufus). It typically nests twice a year, and the juveniles form pairs before the year is over to start a new brood of chicks (Costa et al., 2011).
Diet: Grains, wild grass seeds, small fruits, larvae, and shoots.
Author of this description: Diego Oscar
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