A bright yellow bird with the ability to transform into a glorious fiery orange.

Meet the Saffron Finch

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@bri_alcan

The saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola) is a species of bird with a bright yellow body with an orange crown. The back and wings are laced with black etching on the feathers. The eyes are dark, the legs are grey-pale pink, the upper beak is grey-black while the lower beak is ivory in color.

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@budphotography78

Mature females are a slightly duller version of the male and young hens are often olive-brown with heavy dark streaks.

This is a species of tanager that can easily be confused with the Grassland Yellow-Finch, but that species is usually duller and more heavily streaked above.

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@birds.nature

The Saffron Finch is chiefly found in and endemic to South America, where it inhabits parts of Northern Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and northeast Brazil to central Argentina.

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@anouk.potters

A good diet for the Saffron Finch consists of seeds and small insects

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@belmiramcleod

During the breeding season, these birds like to build a basket-shaped nest which they construct in a variety of places, even in an ox skull or perforated bamboo. It often uses the abandoned nests of other birds and prefers cavities as a nest site. The hen incubates their eggs on her own while her mate guards the nest. Once the eggs hatch both parents accept feeding responsibilities.

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@catire202

Though patchily distributed throughout their range, the Saffron Finch is regarded as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List!

Photo Courtesy of Picuki|@francisco_the_observer

Watch and listen to this bird right here in the video below: