Range:

Northern Colombia and Venezuela; Ecuador and Peru and north-east Brazil to central Argentina.

Habitat:

Grasslands and brushy areas; lowlands outside Amazon basin.

Characteristics:

The male is bright yellow with an orange crown which distinguishes it from other yellow finches in the continent. The females are more confusing as they can sometimes be just a duller version of the male but are often olive-brown with heavy dark streaks.

 

Behavior:

They are cavity nesters; they stuff a messy mass of straw and feathers into a hole in a tree, under eaves of buildings or in rock crevices.

Reproduction:

13 to 14 days. 3-4 eggs