Peg-billed Finch
Acanthidops bairdi
The Peg-billed Finch (Acanthidops bairdi) is a rare tanager found in 2 countries, weighing about 16 g. The peg-billed finch is a passerine bird endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
About the Peg-billed Finch
The peg-billed finch is a passerine bird endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. Despite its name, it is not a true finch, but now recognized as a member of the tanager family (Thraupidae), after being long placed in the Emberizidae. It is the only member of the genus Acanthidops. The scientific name commemorates the American ornithologist Spencer Fullerton Baird.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The peg-billed finch is a long-tailed species, 13.5 cm long and weighing 16 g. It has a distinctive long upturned bill with a black upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. The adult male is slate grey, becoming paler on the belly. The female is olive-brown above, becoming paler below and with a grey tinge to the head and upper back. She has bright cinnamon wing bars and buff supercilia. Young birds are similar to the female, but have paler plumage and weaker wing bars. It has a dry pzeek call, and the male's song consists of high whistled notes ending with a buzz, chee shee shee shee paah.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Peg-billed Finch?
- The peg-billed finch is a long-tailed species, 13.5 cm long and weighing 16 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Peg-billed Finch?
- The Peg-billed Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 16 g.
- Where can you see a Peg-billed Finch?
- The Peg-billed Finch occurs in 2 countries, including Costa Rica and Panama.
- What birds look similar to a Peg-billed Finch?
- The Peg-billed Finch is most easily confused with the Cinereous Finch, the Lesser Antillean Tanager and the Golden-collared Tanager.
- Is the Peg-billed Finch endangered?
- The Peg-billed Finch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Peg-billed Finch for real
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