Saffron Siskin (Spinus siemiradzkii)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Fringillidae  | IUCN Status: Vulnerable

saffron_siskin
Age: Adult | Sex: Male and Females | Loc. Santa Helena, Ecuador

saffron_siskin
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Southwest Ecuador

saffron_siskin
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Manabi, Ecuador

saffron_siskin
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Cerro Blanco, Ecuador


Identification & Behavior: ~10 cm (4 in). The male Saffron Siskin has a black head and a yellow mantle without mottles or streaks. The underparts, rump, uppertail coverts, and base of the tail feathers are bright yellow. The female lacks a black head and is overall yellow olive. In both sexes, the wing is dusky with a broad yellow band along the middle. The bill is conical and pointy. It favors open habitats and also agricultural fields. It is very similar to the Hooded Siskin but is distinguished by being overall more yellow and by not having dusky streaks or mottles on the mantle. These two species may have only limited overlap in Peru. Also, see Yellow-bellied Siskin and Lesser Gold-Finch.

Status: The Saffron Siskin is uncommon at the edges of humid and semi-deciduous forest in Tumbes. It also occurs in Ec.

Name in Spanish: Jilguero Azafranado.

Sub-species: Saffron Siskin (Spinus siemiradzkii), Berlepsch and Taczanowski, 1884.

Meaning of Name: Spinus: Gr. Spinos= unidentified bird mentioned in ancient Greek writing, usually treated as a type of finch. siemiradzkii: In honor of Prof. Józef Siemiradzki (1858–1933) Polish palaeontologist, geologist, explorer in tropical America.

Formerly known as Sporagra siemiradzkii (2018).

See more of the Family Fringillidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
saffron_siskinVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2016.