White-bridled finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-bridled finch |
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Melanodera
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melanodera
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The white-bridled finch (Melanodera melanodera) is a small bird found in South America. People also call it the canary-winged finch or black-throated finch. It belongs to a group of birds called Melanodera, which also includes the yellow-bridled finch.
These birds are a type of passerine, which means they are perching birds. They used to be in a different bird family, but now scientists consider them a type of tanager. You can find them living in grassland areas in the very south of South America. There are two main types, or subspecies, of the white-bridled finch. One lives in the Falkland Islands, and the other lives in southern Argentina and Chile.
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What Does the White-Bridled Finch Look Like?
The male white-bridled finch is quite colorful. Its back is grey-green, and its belly is yellow. Its head and upper chest are grey. It has a black throat and a black mask around its eyes, both outlined with white. You can also see big yellow patches on its wings and tail.
Female white-bridled finches look a bit different. They are mostly brown with darker stripes. Their outer tail feathers are yellow, and their wing feathers have yellow edges.
These birds are about 14 to 15 centimeters (5.5 to 6 inches) long. The finches living on the mainland of South America are usually a bit smaller than those on the Falkland Islands. They also have smaller beaks and more yellow on their wings and tails.
Sounds and Songs of the Finch
The white-bridled finch makes a short, high-pitched sound. Its song is a repeated series of two or three whistles. It often sings from a low spot, like a rock or a clump of grass.
Where Do White-Bridled Finches Live?
White-bridled finches are common all over the Falkland Islands. They live up to about 150 meters (490 feet) above sea level there. However, they are most often found near the coast.
On the South American mainland, they are spread out more thinly. They live up to 580 meters (1,900 feet) above sea level. You can find them in the Magallanes Region of Chile and Santa Cruz Province in Argentina. Their home range stretches from about 47°S latitude down to northern Tierra del Fuego.
These birds typically live in flat areas. They like grasslands, heathlands, farmlands, or sand dunes.
Are White-Bridled Finches in Danger?
On the Falkland Islands, there are about 7,000 to 14,000 pairs of white-bridled finches. Because of this, they are not considered to be in danger there. However, their numbers on the mainland are thought to be going down. This is mainly because of overgrazing, which means too many animals are eating the grass in their habitat.
What Do White-Bridled Finches Eat?
The white-bridled finch looks for food on the ground. It mainly eats seeds, especially seeds from different types of grasses.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The white-bridled finch builds its nest out of grass. It lines the nest with soft materials like hair or feathers. The nest is usually placed low down in the grass or hidden between stones.
Female finches typically lay three or four eggs. These eggs are usually blue-grey or grey-green. They often have purple-brown markings towards the larger end.
