Hooded Siskin
Spinus magellanicus
Hooded Siskins are exceptional mimics, often incorporating the songs of other bird species into their own complex, bubbly melodies.
- Scientific name
- Spinus magellanicus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Fringillidae › Spinus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, scrublands, savannas, parks, and gardens.
- Diet
- Primarily seeds (especially Asteraceae), buds, and occasionally small insects.
- Range
- Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
- Size
- 11-14 cm in length, weighing 11-15 grams
- Lifespan
- 4-7 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, capture for the pet trade.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and docile. Enjoy their vibrant songs from a respectful distance (5-10 meters) using binoculars. They pose no threat to humans. If one approaches, remain still to avoid scaring it away.
The hooded siskin ( Spinus magellanicus ) is a small passerine bird in the finch family (Fringillidae), native to South America. It belongs to the putative clade of neotropical siskins in the genus Spinus sensu lato .
Photo: Guilherme Cameis Freda, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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