Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Olivaceous Siskin
Spinus olivaceus
Olivaceous Siskin (Spinus olivaceus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Olivaceous Siskin (Spinus olivaceus) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 13.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Spinus
- Species olivaceus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Olivaceous Siskin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Olivaceous Siskin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Olivaceous Siskin (Spinus olivaceus) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA far sw Colombia and e Ecuador to n Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 173,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Olivaceous Siskin?
The Olivaceous Siskin is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.
Where does the Olivaceous Siskin live?
The Olivaceous Siskin is found across South America with a range covering SA far sw Colombia and e Ecuador to n Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Olivaceous Siskin belong to?
The Olivaceous Siskin (Spinus olivaceus) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Olivaceous Siskin eat?
The Olivaceous Siskin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Olivaceous Siskin migrate?
The Olivaceous Siskin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Olivaceous Siskin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Olivaceous Siskin make?
1 real field recording of the Olivaceous Siskin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Olivaceous Siskin's range?
The Olivaceous Siskin has a mapped global range of about 173,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Fringillidae
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Extinct
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.