Yellow-faced siskin

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Yellow-faced siskin (Spinus yarrellii)

The yellow-faced siskin is a small finch found in Brazil and Venezuela. It is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of trapping for the bird trade and deforestation.

Classification
- Scientific name: Spinus yarrellii
- Family: Fringillidae
- Described by: John James Audubon in 1839
- Subspecies: none recognised
- Related species: closely related to the hooded siskin

Appearance
- Sexually dimorphic: males often have a black crown; females do not
- Both sexes have a bright yellow body with an olive back
- Wings are black and yellow
- Legs are pink; tail is black on top and white underneath
- Beak is cone-shaped, suited to seeds

Distribution and habitat
- Main range: Southeastern Brazil (states including Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Bahia)
- A separate population exists in northern Venezuela, believed by many to be escaped cage birds (with one record dating from 1914)
- Lives in a variety of habitats: mountainous forests, shrublands, farmland, plantations, and urban areas

Diet and nesting
- Diet mainly seeds, with berries and insects
- Nests are cup-shaped, made from grasses, spider webs, and hairs

Behavior
- Calls are a melodious warble, similar to related finches

Conservation
- Threats: heavy trapping for the illegal bird trade and deforestation
- Status: Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1); listed in CITES Appendix II

Notes
- The species has a relatively small geographic range but can be found in a variety of habitats.