Black-crested Finch

Lophospingus pusillus

Tanagers and Allies · Passeriformes · Rare

The Black-crested Finch (Lophospingus pusillus) is a rare tanager found in 3 countries, weighing about 14 g. The black-crested finch is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.

Least ConcernRareEats omnivoreshrublandcup nest14 g

About the Black-crested Finch

The black-crested finch is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is a fairly common bird with a very wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it to be a "least-concern species".

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The adult black-crested finch is about 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. It has a yellowish-pink beak and a distinctive spiky black crest. The male has a black head and black throat, and a broad white superciliary stripe. The cheek area is also white. The upper parts of the body, the wings and tail are grey, apart from the white tips to the wing-coverts and the large white areas at the corners of the tail which are particularly obvious in flight. The underparts are largely pale grey.

Where it lives

When to see it

The Black-crested Finch 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 a Black-crested Finch?
The adult black-crested finch is about 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Black-crested Finch?
The Black-crested Finch is a tiny sized bird weighing about 14 g.
Where can you see a Black-crested Finch?
The Black-crested Finch occurs in 3 countries, including Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to a Black-crested Finch?
The Black-crested Finch is most easily confused with the Grey-crested Finch.
Is the Black-crested Finch endangered?
The Black-crested Finch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Black-crested Finch for real

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