Pampa Finch

Overview

The Pampa finch (Embernagra platensis), also known as the great Pampa-finch, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is a sedentary resident found across parts of South America, where it is considered common and adaptable to agricultural environments.

Identification

• Large size, measuring 20.5 to 23 cm in length, with short wings, a long tail, and a long, thick bill.
• Sexes share plumage; nominate subspecies display a dark mask on a gray head, grass-green upperparts with dark streaks, and gray underparts with a cinnamon-brown wash on the belly and vent.
• Features a dark brown iris, an orange bill with a black culmen, and dull pinkish legs.
• Song consists of a musical series of 3–5 high-frequency notes, often ending in a loud, frequency-modulated note (e.g. 'gléeeeuuu').

Habitat

This species inhabits grasslands with some shrubs, ranging in elevation from sea level to 2,500 m. Its range extends across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with subspecies variations preferring different landscape moistures and shrub densities.

Diet

The Pampa finch feeds on seeds and arthropods, with the latter being more important during the breeding season. Pairs and family groups forage on the ground and occasionally attend army ant swarms.

Did you know?

The shiny cowbird is a frequent brood parasite of the Pampa finch, and the species appears to adapt well to agriculture, often perching on and singing from fence posts as long as some tall grass remains on the outside of farm fields.