Grey-crested Finch
Lophospingus griseocristatus
The Grey-crested Finch (Lophospingus griseocristatus) is a rare tanager found in 2 countries, weighing about 18 g. The grey-crested finch is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.
About the Grey-crested Finch
The grey-crested finch is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and heavily degraded former forest. The bird was first described in 1837 by the French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye and the French zoologist Alcide d'Orbigny after the latter had collected it on an expedition he undertook for the Paris Museum to South America between 1826 and 1833.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The grey-crested finch has a distinctive erect, spiky grey crest. Other parts of the bird are grey also, with the underparts being paler than the upper parts, and the belly being whitish. The wings and tail are deeper grey, except for the outer corners of the tail which are white and particularly noticeable in flight. The beak is yellow, pink and grey. The adult length of this finch is about 14 cm (5.5 in).
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina.
When to see it
Best months: January, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Grey-crested Finch?
- The grey-crested finch has a distinctive erect, spiky grey crest. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Grey-crested Finch?
- The Grey-crested Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.
- Where can you see a Grey-crested Finch?
- The Grey-crested Finch occurs in 2 countries, including Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Grey-crested Finch?
- The Grey-crested Finch is most easily confused with the Black-crested Finch.
- Is the Grey-crested Finch endangered?
- The Grey-crested Finch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Grey-crested Finch for real
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