Photo: DarioNizUruguay / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-tailed Reed Finch
Donacospiza albifrons
Long-tailed Reed Finch (Donacospiza albifrons) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-tailed Reed Finch (Donacospiza albifrons) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 16.5 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 Donacospiza
- Species albifrons
Where it lives
Central Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina and Uruguay
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Long-tailed Reed Finch (Donacospiza albifrons) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Bolivia, e Paraguay, s Brazil, ne Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Reed Finch?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is a small bird that weighs around 16.5 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Reed Finch live?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is found across South America with a range covering SA c Bolivia, e Paraguay, s Brazil, ne Argentina and Uruguay, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Long-tailed Reed Finch belong to?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch (Donacospiza albifrons) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Long-tailed Reed Finch eat?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Long-tailed Reed Finch migrate?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Long-tailed Reed 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 Long-tailed Reed Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed Reed 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 Long-tailed Reed Finch's range?
The Long-tailed Reed Finch has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million 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
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A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.