Red-crested Finch

Fascinating facts about the Red-crested Finch

• Its three subspecies live in completely separate pockets across South America, creating a patchwork map that looks more like islands than a continuous range. The nominate C. c. cucullatus sits south of the Amazon in eastern Pará, C. c. rubescens spreads from southern Brazil into Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, while C. c. fargoi hops from Ecuador's Marañón valley through Peru, Bolivia and northern Argentina.
• From sea level up to 3,100 m (10,200 ft) in Bolivia, the finch occupies a remarkable altitude span, thriving in savannas, gallery forest edges, and even city parks. In Brazil it lives from sea level to 1,500 m, while in Ecuador it prefers 1,100-1,400 m and in Peru 400-700 m (north) or 700-2,200 m (south). This flexibility lets it exploit diverse micro-habitats.
• The IUCN lists the red pileated finch as Least Concern, noting its very large range and a population believed to be stable despite unknown exact numbers. It is described as "fairly common but patchily distributed" in Peru and "common to frequent" in Brazil. Interestingly, the species may actually thrive where forests give way to second-growth or even agricultural expansion in native grasslands, suggesting that some human-altered landscapes can act as new habitats rather than pure threats.
• At just 13.5 cm long and weighing only 11-18 g, this bird. Its a striking black crest with a red stripe that males flash while foraging on the ground.
• Breeding peaks from November through February. Nests are hidden cups tucked 1.5-1.8 m up in dense foliage. Each clutch holds just two or three unmarked white eggs.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Red-crested Finch

The Red-crested Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus) dazzles with its striking plumage, characterized by a vibrant red crown and a soft yellow underbelly that contrasts beautifully against its darker wings and back. This small, yet boldly colored bird is native to the savannas and open woodlands of South America, particularly in regions spanning from southeastern Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Their habitat is often characterized by scattered trees and shrubs, which provide both nesting sites and foraging grounds. Known for their sociable nature, these finches are often seen in small flocks, flitting between branches and foraging for seeds, fruits, and insects. Their cheerful trills and melodious calls fill the air, creating a lively atmosphere in their natural surroundings. One surprising trait of the Red-crested Finch is its remarkable adaptability; they thrive in disturbed habitats, such as areas affected by agriculture, where they can exploit the abundance of food sources available in these modified landscapes. This flexibility in habitat choice allows them to flourish in environments that many other species might find inhospitable, showcasing their resilience in the face of changing ecosystems.

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