Andean Siskin
Spinus spinescens
The Andean Siskin (Spinus spinescens) is a rare finches, euphonias, and alli found in 3 countries, weighing about 11 g. The Andean siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
About the Andean Siskin
The Andean siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is a small green-and-yellow finch. According to some sources, it is the smallest species of finch on average, although others give this title to the lesser goldfinch. The total length can range from 9.5 to 11 cm (3.7 to 4.3 in). A weight of 11.5 g (0.41 oz) may be at the high end. Few standard measurements are known, although the bill has been recorded at 1.1 cm (0.43 in) and the wing chord length is reportedly around 6.4 cm (2.5 in). The Andean siskin has deep green upperparts with black and yellow coloration on the wings and tail. The adult male has a distinctive black cap.
What the Andean Siskin sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Andean Siskin can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Andean Siskin?
- This is a small green-and-yellow finch. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Andean Siskin?
- The Andean Siskin is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see an Andean Siskin?
- The Andean Siskin occurs in 3 countries, including Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
- What does an Andean Siskin sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Andean Siskin on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Andean Siskin?
- The Andean Siskin is most easily confused with the Black-headed Siskin, the Yellow-bellied Siskin and the Black Siskin.
- Is the Andean Siskin endangered?
- The Andean Siskin is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Andean Siskin for real
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