Andean Siskin (Spinus) [XC486033]
by id from Vereda Alfaro, San Mateo, Boyac\u00e1, Colombia (song)
Andean Siskin (Spinus) [XC27415]
by David Ricardo Rodr\u00edguez Villamil from Antioquia: P\u00e1ramo de Frontino, Colombia (flight call, flight calls group)
Subspecies
May form a superspecies with Yellow-faced Siskin (Spinus yarrellii). Has recently been proposed that this species be placed in genus Spinus or Sporagra, and revision may be justifiable as phylogenetic analysis indicates that South American siskins are only distantly related to the two Holarctic species, but comprehensive review of all species currently included within present genus is required in order to determine true relationships.
Proposed subspecies capitanea, described from San Miguel (Santa Marta Mts), in northern Colombia, is treated as a synonym of nominate.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
spinescens (Bonaparte, 1851) - Colombia (Santa Marta Mts, Sierra de Perijá and eastern Andes) and western and northern Venezuela (probably Sierra de Perijá; northern Andes in Trujillo, Mérida and Táchira. Also north-eastern Aragua).
nigricauda Chapman, 1912 - Western Colombia (western and central Andes southern from northern Antioquia) south to northern Ecuador (Carchi).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet