Grey pileated finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey pileated finch |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Coryphospingus
|
| Species: |
pileatus
|
 |
|
The grey pileated finch (Coryphospingus pileatus) is a small bird found in South America. It is also known as the pileated finch. This bird lives in warm, dry forests and bushy areas. Scientists recently moved it to a new bird family called Thraupidae, which includes tanagers. You can find this bird in countries like Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Venezuela.
Contents
About the Grey Pileated Finch
How Scientists Classify This Bird
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to group living things. This helps us understand how different species are related. The grey pileated finch was first described by a German scientist named Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied in 1821.
Recent studies have shown that the grey pileated finch belongs to the tanager family, Thraupidae. Before this, it was thought to be part of the Emberizidae family, which includes sparrows and buntings. It is closely related to the red pileated finch.
There are three main types, or subspecies, of the grey pileated finch:
- C. p. brevicaudus: Found in northern Colombia and northern Venezuela.
- C. p. rostratus: Lives near the upper Magdalena River Valley in Colombia.
- C. p. pileatus: Found in central and eastern Brazil.
What Does It Look Like?
The grey pileated finch is about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. The male bird has some special features. It has a white ring around its eye. On top of its head, there is a small patch of bright red feathers. These red feathers can be raised like a crest! The rest of its head is black, which partly hides the red crest.
The male's back, wings, and tail are grey. Its belly is whitish, and its sides and chest are also grey. The female bird looks similar to the male. However, she does not have the red and black colors on her head.
Where Does It Live?
This bird lives in South America. You can find it in northern Venezuela and parts of northern and eastern Colombia. There is also a separate group of these birds in eastern Brazil. This Brazilian population stretches from Fortaleza down to Rio de Janeiro. It also goes as far west as the southern Mato Grosso region.
The grey pileated finch likes to live in different kinds of woodlands. This includes forests where trees lose their leaves, moist woodlands, and the edges of forests. It also enjoys living in bushy areas and dry scrubland. These birds usually live at elevations up to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
Life and Habits
The grey pileated finch often looks for food in small groups. They usually search for food on the ground. Sometimes, they also look in low bushes and plants. We don't know exactly what they eat.
These birds usually breed during the wet season. In northern Venezuela, this can be any time between April and November. The exact time depends on when the rainy season begins.
Conservation Status
The grey pileated finch has a very large area where it lives. It is also quite common. Scientists have not counted the exact number of these birds. However, their population seems to be stable. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says the bird's conservation status is "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
