Red Pileated Finch

Overview

The red pileated finch, also known as the red-crested finch, is a small passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN and is found across various parts of South America.

Identification

• Males display a black crest with a red central stripe, usually held flat, while females have a brown head with no crest.
• Males feature a red throat and breast with reddish underparts, whereas females are paler brown with a reddish wash on the breast.
• Both sexes possess white crescents above and below the eye, a longish bill with a blackish maxilla, and brownish legs.
• The song is described as a musical 2- or 3-note series: "chidut-WEET chidut-WEET chidut-WEET...".

Habitat

The species inhabits somewhat dry and open landscapes, including shrubby areas, woodlands, savannas, agricultural areas, and even parks or gardens. It has a highly disjunct distribution across South America, with subspecies found in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and possibly Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, ranging in elevation from sea level to 3,100 m.

Diet

The red pileated finch forages on the ground near, under, and in shrubs and other low vegetation. Although its specific diet has not been studied, it is typically seen singly or in pairs, occasionally forming small flocks during the non-breeding season.

Did you know?

The species may actually benefit from habitat alteration, as areas of forest giving way to secondary growth and agricultural expansion in native grasslands can provide suitable living conditions. It forms a superspecies with the grey pileated finch and hybridises where their ranges overlap.