Bird Guide

Bananaquit vs Saffron Finch

Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

Tiny10 gShrubland

The bananaquit is a small bird, although size varies somewhat across the subspecies. Length can range from 10 to 13 cm (3.9 to 5.1 in). Weight ranges from 5.5 to 19 g (0.19 to 0.67 oz). Most subspecies of the bananaquit have dark grey (almost black) upperparts, black crowns and sides of the head, a prominent white eyestripe, grey throat, white vent, and yellow chest, belly, and rump. Coloration is heavily influenced by melanocortin 1 receptor variation. The sexes are alike, but juveniles are duller and often have partially yellow eyebrows and throat.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Gean Carlo Valdés · CC0
Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)

Saffron Finch

Sicalis flaveola

Small17 gShrubland

The male is bright yellow with an orange crown which distinguishes it from most other yellow finches (the exception being the orange-fronted yellow finch). The females are more difficult to identify and are usually just a slightly duller version of the male, but in the southern subspecies S. f. pelzelni they are olive-brown with heavy dark streaks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: gerardo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ImagePerson · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Bananaquit and Saffron Finch.