Bird Guide

Grey Pileated Finch vs Red Pileated Finch

Grey Pileated Finch (Coryphospingus pileatus)

Grey Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus pileatus

Small15 gShrubland

The grey pileated finch grows to a length of around 13 cm (5.1 in). The male has a white eye ring and a small patch of scarlet on the top of the head which can be raised as a crest, and this is partially concealed by the black plumage on the rest of the crown. The upper parts of the body, wings, and tail are grey, while the underparts are whitish, grading to grey on the flanks and breast. The female has a similar colouring but lacks the red and black on the head.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: GERMAN LEONEL SARMIENTO CRUZ · CC BY 4.0
Red Pileated Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus)

Red Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

Tiny14 gShrubland

The red pileated finch is about 13.5 cm (5.3 in) long. Both the male and female have a white eye ring. The male has a red crest and a black crown, just as the grey pileated finch does; however, its upper parts are dark wine red, with a reddish rump, and the underparts are a drab reddish colour. The red crest and black head are absent in the female and the upper parts are a little more brown than those of the male. The throat of the female is white and the underparts pink.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Red Pileated Finch
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Zamora-Chinchipe: 1-2 km W Shaimi, Nangaritza Valley, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mario Barroso · 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: Grey Pileated Finch and Red Pileated Finch.