White-bridled Finch
Melanodera melanodera
The White-bridled Finch (Melanodera melanodera) is a rare tanager found in 3 countries, weighing about 29 g. The white-bridled finch, also known as the canary-winged finch or black-throated finch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Melanodera together with the yellow-bridled finch.
About the White-bridled Finch
The white-bridled finch, also known as the canary-winged finch or black-throated finch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Melanodera together with the yellow-bridled finch. Formerly placed in the family Emberizidae, it is now considered a tanager. It is found in grassland in southernmost South America. There are two subspecies: M. m. melanodera in the Falkland Islands and M. m. princetoniana in southern Argentina and Chile.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The male is grey-green above and yellow below with a grey head and upper breast. It has a black throat and mask which are bordered with white. There are large yellow patches in the wings and tail. Females are brown with dark streaks. They have yellow outer tail feathers and yellow fringes to the wing feathers. It is 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) long. Birds on the mainland are smaller than those on the Falklands with a smaller bill and more yellow in the wings and tail. The call is a short, high-pitched note and the song is a repeated series of two or three whistles.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-bridled Finch?
- The male is grey-green above and yellow below with a grey head and upper breast. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-bridled Finch?
- The White-bridled Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 29 g.
- Where can you see a White-bridled Finch?
- The White-bridled Finch occurs in 3 countries, including the Falkland Islands, Chile and Argentina.
- What birds look similar to a White-bridled Finch?
- The White-bridled Finch is most easily confused with the Yellow-bridled Finch.
- Is the White-bridled Finch endangered?
- The White-bridled Finch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-bridled Finch for real
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