Red Siskin

Overview

The red siskin (Spinus cucullatus) is a small, highly endangered finch native to tropical South America. It is recognised as an attractive bird with a pleasant song and unique colouration, which has led to its use in interbreeding with domestic canaries.

Identification

• Males are mainly deep red with black on the head, throat, flight feathers and tail tip, plus a whitish lower belly and under tail.
• Females are grey on the head, breast and upper parts, with a red rump and upper tail, grey breast with reddish flanks, and underparts, wings and tail resembling the male.
• Immature females are paler than adults, while immature males are brown rather than red.
• Approximately 10 cm long.
• Call is a high-pitched chitter and sharp chi-tit; male song is a musical, goldfinch-like melody with twitters and trills.

Habitat

Native to northern Colombia, northern Venezuela (where it is known as the 'cardenalito') and Guyana, it inhabits open country, forest edges and grassland with trees or shrubs. Historically common in the foothills of northern Venezuela, its range is now fragmented, with populations on Trinidad and in Puerto Rico believed to be extinct.

Diet

Red siskins eat seeds and are highly gregarious. When more numerous, they formed semi-nomadic flocks.

Did you know?

The species' unique colouration for a small finch has led to it being used for interbreeding with domestic canaries to produce varieties with red in the plumage.