Lesser Grass Finch

Overview

The lesser grass finch (Emberizoides ypiranganus), also known as the gray-cheeked grass-finch, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Identification

• 18 to 20 cm long with a long pointed tail and a moderately thick, yellow-orange bill with a blackish culmen.
• Mostly grayish face with darker lores, a pale supercilium, and a thin whitish eye-ring.
• Upperparts are boldly streaked with greenish brown and black, featuring wings with wide bright green edges.
• Song is a harsh monotonous chatter, described as 'ch-ch-ch-ch-ch...' or 'wet-wet-wet...', with the last few notes often doubled.

Habitat

The species occupies a U-shaped range spanning eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina and northern Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil. It primarily inhabits wet grasslands, swampy meadows, and marshes, though it less frequently occurs in drier grasslands. Elevation ranges from sea level to 900 m.

Diet

The specific diet of the lesser grass finch has not been studied. Single individuals and pairs forage on the ground, usually somewhat concealed in grass.

Did you know?

The nest is a deep cup made from leaves and lined with finer plant material, placed in grass within about 0.7 m of the ground. The female alone incubates the clutch of two to three white, dark-spotted eggs for 13 to 14 days.