Idiopsar dorsalis
The Red-backed Sierra Finch, *Idiopsar dorsalis*, is a striking passerine bird of the high Andes, instantly recognizable by its vivid brick-red back which sharply contrasts with a pale grey head, neck, and chest, and clean white underparts. Averaging around 15 cm (5.9 inches) in length and weighing about 23-28 grams, this medium-sized finch-like bird sports a conical, yellowish-orange bill with a dusky culmen and yellowish legs. Despite its common name, it is not a true finch (family Fringill...
Found exclusively in the high-altitude Andean puna and altiplano, inhabiting barren, rocky slopes, sparse grass tussocks, and high-elevation puna grasslands, typically above 3,500 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small seeds from high-altitude grasses and forbs, supplemented with insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season.
Red-backed Sierra Finches are diurnal, primarily active during daylight hours, foraging solitarily, in pairs, or small family groups, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. Their primary foraging strategy involves gleaning seeds and small insects directly from the ground or low vegetation. Wh...
The Red-backed Sierra Finch is a resident species endemic to the high Andes of South America, primarily distributed across Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and northern Chile. Its core range spans the Altiplano and Puna regions, where it inhabits vast, open landscapes. In Peru, it is found from the cent...
Least Concern
- Despite being called a 'Finch,' the Red-backed Sierra Finch is actually a member of the tanager family (Thraupidae), reflecting the complex classification of South American birds. - It is a true high-altitude specialist, regularly found at elevations exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) and som...