Spinus xanthogastrus
The Yellow-bellied Siskin, *Spinus xanthogastrus*, is a vibrant and unmistakable finch of the Neotropical highlands. Males are strikingly dichromatic, sporting a glossy black cap, nape, and upperparts, contrasting sharply with brilliant yellow underparts and a prominent yellow rump. Their black wings feature two vivid yellow bars, and the black tail is adorned with yellow basal patches. Females are considerably duller, displaying an olive-greenish head and back, yellowish underparts with fain...
Found in humid montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet).
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small seeds, especially from conifers (pines, cypresses) and plants in the Asteraceae family. Insects are also consumed, particularly during the breeding season to feed nestlings.
Yellow-bellied Siskins are diurnal birds, actively foraging from early morning through late afternoon and roosting communally in dense foliage at night. Their foraging strategy is predominantly arboreal, where they exhibit acrobatic skills, often hanging upside down to extract seeds from cones, c...
The Yellow-bellied Siskin is a resident species found throughout the humid montane forests of Central and northern South America. Its distribution spans from extreme southern Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca) through the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Pan...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name, *xanthogastrus*, is derived from Greek, literally meaning 'yellow-bellied' (xanthos = yellow, gaster = belly), perfectly describing the male's striking plumage. - Males of this species are among the most vividly colored and easily identifiable siskins in their diverse genus...