Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)

Other Names (World)
Saffron Finch, Yellow Finch, Saffron Yellow Finch, Pelzeln's Finch (pelzelni group), Pereyra's Yellow-finch

Family
Thraupidae (Tanagers)

Size
14 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Linnaeus, 1766)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical dry shrubland. From sea-level - 2,000 m.

Range (Guide)

Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay (B), Venezuela.

Introduced to Cuba, Jamaica, USA.

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).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (203)...)

Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) [XC396045]
by Fernando Igor de Godoy from Costa del Este, near Panama City, Panama (call)

Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) [XC620879]
by Dante Buzzetti from North-east of La Para, Mar Chiquita, C\u00f3rdoba, Argentina (song)

Subspecies
Molecular-genetic data suggest that genus is most closely related to the "hooded" group of sierra-finches (Black-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus atriceps), Peruvian Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus punensis), Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus gayi) and Patagonian Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus patagonicus)). Also, that it belongs within the tanager family (Thraupidae). Subspecies form two groups, "flaveola group" (nominate and valida) and "pelzelni group" (pelzelni, brasiliensis and koenigi), these differing dramatically in female and immature plumages and, to lesser extent, in male plumage. Also, the latter group exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, while "flaveola group" does not. These groups may warrant treatment as two separate species. Further research is required. Disjunct trans-Andean valida possibly also a distinct species, meriting detailed assessment. Birds of higher areas of southern Bolivia currently included in subspecies pelzelni, but may belong in koenigi.

Proposed taxon Sicalis striata (described from Buenos Aires, in Argentina) invalid, based on a specimen regarded as a breeding male of subspecies pelzelni in immature plumage.

The following 5 subspecies are recognised:

flaveola (Linnaeus, 1766) - Northern and eastern Colombia (south to Meta), Venezuela south to R Orinoco (also north-western Amazonas), coasts of the Guianas, and Trinidad.
valida Bangs & Penard, TE, 1921 - Coastal slope in Ecuador (Guayaquil) south to north-western Peru (Ancash).
brasiliensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) - Eastern Brazil from Maranh�o, Minas Gerais and S�o Paulo east to Atlantic coast.
pelzelni Sclater, PL, 1872 - Bolivia east of Andes (southern from southern Beni), south-eastern Brazil (southern from Mato Grosso and Santa Catarina), Paraguay, eastern Argentina (south to eastern Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires) and Uruguay; recently also in Chile (Los R��os and Los Lagos; possibly introduced).
koenigi Hoy, G, 1978 - North-western Argentina (Salta and Jujuy).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Saffron Finch see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Saffron Finch

If you would like to read any articles about the Saffron Finch...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Saffron Finch

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Saffron Finch or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Saffron Finch

If Birdpedia has no videos of Saffron Finch or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)