Habitat
Temperate shrubland and forest. Also, subtropical and tropical lowland dry and moist shrubland and forest, temperate grassland. From sea-level - 1,800 m.
Breeds from Maule region of Chile southern and from forested areas of adjacent Argentina (southern from Neuquén) south to Tierra del Fuego. In winter also north to Valparaíso and Metropolitan Santiago regions.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Patagonian Sierra Finch (Phrygilus patagonicus) [XC508099]
by Barry Edmonston from Ancud, Chiloe, Los Lagos, Chile (song)
Patagonian Sierra Finch (Phrygilus patagonicus) [XC470042]
by Niels Krabbe from Cascadas Nivinco, Los Lagos, Neuqu\u00e9n, Argentina (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Originally described as Fringilla formosa, but that name invalid, as preoccupied. Molecular-genetic studies indicate that genus belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae). May form a superspecies with Black-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus atriceps), Peruvian Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus punensis) and Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus gayi) (the "hooded" group), and molecular data suggest that this group may be closely related to Sicalis. Range overlaps with that of Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus gayi) in various sites in Andes and north-western Tierra del Fuego. Some evidence of hybridization in latter, but the two species generally remain separate, and occupy different habitats. Small coastal subspecies minor of Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus gayi) exhibits some plumage features intermediate between the two species, and may be better included in present species on basis of its preference for forest or forest-edge habitat.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet