Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Siskin
Spinus atratus
Black Siskin (Spinus atratus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Siskin (Spinus atratus) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 16 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 atratus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Siskin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black Siskin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Siskin (Spinus atratus) is a member of the Fringillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Peru to n Chile and w Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 840,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Siskin?
The Black Siskin is a small bird that weighs around 16 g.
Where does the Black Siskin live?
The Black Siskin is found across South America with a range covering SA s Peru to n Chile and w Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black Siskin belong to?
The Black Siskin (Spinus atratus) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Siskin eat?
The Black Siskin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black Siskin migrate?
The Black Siskin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black 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 Black Siskin make?
1 real field recording of the Black 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 Black Siskin's range?
The Black Siskin has a mapped global range of about 840,000 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 Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.