Photo: in Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Citron-headed Yellow Finch
Sicalis luteocephala
Citron-headed Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteocephala) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteocephala) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 16.2 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 Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Sicalis
- Species luteocephala
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.2 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteocephala) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Bolivia and nw Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.2 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 5.6 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 79,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Citron-headed Yellow Finch?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is a small bird that weighs around 16.2 g.
Where does the Citron-headed Yellow Finch live?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is found across South America with a range covering SA Bolivia and nw Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Citron-headed Yellow Finch belong to?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteocephala) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Citron-headed Yellow Finch eat?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Citron-headed Yellow Finch migrate?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Citron-headed Yellow Finch 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 Citron-headed Yellow Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Citron-headed Yellow Finch — 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 Citron-headed Yellow Finch's range?
The Citron-headed Yellow Finch has a mapped global range of about 79,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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 Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.