Spinus notatus
The Black-headed Siskin (Spinus notatus) is a small, strikingly patterned finch native to the highlands of Mexico and Central America, measuring about 10-11 cm (4.0-4.3 in) in length and weighing 9-12 grams (0.32-0.42 oz). Males are particularly distinctive, boasting a glossy black head, chin, and throat that contrasts sharply with a vibrant, lemon-yellow body, rump, and undertail coverts. Their wings are black with a prominent yellow median wing-bar and yellow patches at the base of the prim...
Found primarily in montane pine-oak, pine, fir, and cypress forests, often favoring forest edges, clearings, and disturbed areas. Typically inhabits elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet) above sea level.
Primarily granivorous, feeding heavily on small seeds from conifers (pine, fir, cypress), as well as alders, birches, and various grasses and composites. Supplements its diet with small insects, particularly during the breeding season.
Black-headed Siskins are diurnal and highly social, often foraging in small to medium-sized flocks, which may sometimes mix with other finch species. They are acrobatic feeders, often seen hanging upside down to extract seeds from conifer cones, catkins, and seed heads. During the breeding season...
The Black-headed Siskin's primary geographic distribution extends from central and western Mexico south through the highlands of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and northern Nicaragua. The nominate subspecies, *S. n. notatus*, is found from central Veracruz and Oaxaca, south to Nicaragu...
Least Concern
- The male's striking glossy black head contrasting with its brilliant yellow body gives it a unique 'harlequin' appearance among New World siskins. - They are remarkably agile, often observed hanging upside down by a single foot to extract seeds from challenging conifer cones. - Despite their sm...