| Saffron Finch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Hawaii (introduced), Panama (introduced), and Puerto Rico (introduced). |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Thraupidae |
| Genus | Sicalis |
| Species | S. flaveola |
| Conservation Status | |
 Least Concern | |
With its bright yellow plumage and pleasant song, the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) is a conspicuous little tanager native to South America.
Description[]
Immature
Males are bright yellow with orange crowns while females are slightly duller versions of the males. The only exception is the in the southern subspecies, S. f. pelzelni, in which the female is olive-brown with heavy, dark streaks. Both sexes have olive-brown primaries, a black bill, pink legs, and grow up to 5.5 inches (13.97 cm). Juveniles are buff in color with yellow on their backs and chests.
Habitat and Distribution[]
Saffron Finches are native to the open and semi-open lowlands of South America outside the Amazon Basin. It has also been introduced to Hawaii (introduced in 1965), Panama, and Puerto Rico. In Hawaii, this bird is most populous in the Big Island and Oahu and can commonly be found in lawns and other grassy and shrubby areas along the coast.
Reproduction and Nesting[]
Courtship begins with the male chasing the female until she gives into his advances. After the female has settled down, the male will settle down next to her, singing his repetitive song of single or double notes with an occasional brief trill. He will dance and flap his wings as he sings. Males are polygamous, mating with two females during the nesting season lasting from September to April. Saffron Finches are typically cavity nesters but will also create their own nests in shrubbery. 5-7 white, brownish-red-speckled eggs are laid in these nests. Females are the sole incubator of the eggs, while the male aggressively guards her. Eggs will hatch in about 13 days and hatchlings will fledge at around 3 weeks of age.
Relationship with Humans[]
Saffron Finches are tolerant of human proximity; frequenting suburbs and bird tables.
Combined with their pleasant song and striking appearance, Saffron Finches are kept as caged birds in many areas. Male Saffron Finches are also popular birds for blood sporting, with two males put in a cage in order to fight, since they are extremely aggressive and territorial.
Resources[]
Pote By, Savannah Harriman-. “Manu Minute: The Growing Flock of Saffron Finches.” Hawai'i Public Radio, 29 Apr. 2021, https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/manu-minute/2021-04-28/manu-minute-the-growing-flock-of-saffron-finches.
“Saffron Finch.” Saffron Finch, https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/bird/saffron-finch/.
“Saffron Finch.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Aug. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron_finch.
“Saffron Finch: Utah's Hogle Zoo.” HogleZoo, https://legacy.hoglezoo.org/meet_our_animals/animal_finder/saffron_finch/.