The black-headed greenfinch is a small passerine bird in the family Fringillidae. It is found in the Chinese province of Yunnan, northern Laos, eastern Myanmar and adjacent areas of Vietnam, Thailand and Northeast India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
Region
Southeast Asia and Eastern Himalayas
Typical Environment
Occurs from southwest China (notably Yunnan) into northeastern India and adjacent parts of Myanmar, northern Laos, northern Vietnam, and northern Thailand. Prefers open woodland, dry scrub, forest edges, and secondary growth, often near montane villages and clearings. It uses weedy fields and shrublands with scattered trees and thickets. Outside breeding, it roams locally where seed sources are plentiful, sometimes joining mixed finch flocks.
Altitude Range
800–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The black-headed greenfinch is a finch of montane edges and dry scrub, where it often forages in small, chatty groups. Males show a striking black head contrasting with olive-green body plumage and bright yellow wing and tail flashes. It frequently makes short altitudinal movements following seasonal seed availability. During breeding, it supplements its seed diet with small insects for growing chicks.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
undulating finch flight with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs during the breeding season and in small flocks at other times, sometimes joining mixed-species finch groups. Nests are cup-shaped and placed in shrubs or small trees. Likely monogamous, with both parents involved in provisioning young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A lively series of twitters, trills, and metallic notes typical of greenfinches. Calls include sharp, ringing 'twee' and buzzy contact notes exchanged within foraging groups.
Plumage
Male with a glossy black head and throat, olive-green upperparts, and yellow-edged wings and tail; underparts olive to yellow-tinged. Female and immature birds are duller, with a gray-brown head, faint streaking, and reduced yellow panels. Overall compact finch with stout seed-cracking bill.
Diet
Primarily consumes seeds of grasses, forbs, and shrubs, including seedheads gleaned from weedy patches. Takes buds and tender shoots, especially in the dry season. During breeding, adds small insects and larvae to meet protein demands of nestlings.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open scrub, field margins, forest edges, and village outskirts with scattered bushes. Often forages on the ground and in low shrubs, moving to seed-bearing plants and thistles.
