A 14 cm siskin, very yellow, and one of the brightest siskins, surpassed only by the Puna Siskin (S. lutea). Short, straight bill. Short wings, square tail. Male: head and underparts intense yellow, with no olive tones. Well-defined gray lore. Back uniform (clean yellow-olive, without mottling or streaking). Rump bright olive, conspicuous. Male (non-breeding): grayish back. Female: brownish gray with a sulfur-yellow patch in the center of the belly (sometimes extending to the throat). Olive rump. Compared to the Olivaceous Siskin (S. olivascens), the Montaraz is much more yellow and lacks olive on the head and chest. The Olivaceous has mottled or streaked back; the Montaraz is uniform. The Montaraz’s gray lore is bold; in the Olivaceous it is weak and poorly contrasted.
Distribution: Endemic to western Argentina. From northeastern Catamarca and Tucumán southward through La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, and northern San Luis. Elevation 900–2100 m (down to 600–700 m in sierras and desert basins). In Tucumán it is frequent in Amaicha del Valle and surrounding large canyons.
Habitat: Arid habitats of the Monte ecoregion. Shrublands of Larrea, cactus zones, rocky walls, ravines, and canyons. Sparse vegetation, bare soils, and extremely dry environments.
Behavior: Feeds mainly on the ground, alone or in pairs; in winter gathers in small flocks (up to 20–30 individuals). Moves daily to feeding areas and returns to communal roosts at dusk. Strongly associated with ravines and rocky outcrops, where it also sings. Its song consists of short metallic syllables, rising and falling: “chiriúp–chriip–chri-chri–chii,” varying in rhythm and pitch; very rhythmic, harsh, and with imitations included in the sequence. Often sings from rock walls or exposed rocks.
Diet: Almost exclusively seeds. Searches on the ground or hovers to pluck grass seeds. Occasionally insects.
Reproduction: Nests in cavities of earthen banks or rocky crevices, sometimes in small groups. Cup nest made of grasses, lined with hair.
Conservation status: Not threatened. Endemic to Argentina but common within its habitat.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025