The collared warbling finch is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Tumbesian and Marañón dry forest belt of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern to north-central Peru. Prefers arid to semi-arid scrub, thorn forest, and shrubby edges, often with cacti and scattered acacias. It uses brushy ravines, field margins, and rocky slopes with low, dense cover. Birds are generally sedentary within this range, moving locally in response to food and breeding conditions.
Altitude Range
500–2600 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The collared warbling finch is a small tanager-like finch of scrubby Andean foothills and dry intermontane valleys in Ecuador and Peru. It typically stays low in bushes and cacti, where it forages quietly and breaks into a pleasant, musical warble. The species often forms pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the non-breeding season. Its contrasting breast collar is a key field mark that helps separate it from other warbling finches in the region.
Temperament
alert but generally unobtrusive; can be confiding near cover
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights between shrubs
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs during the breeding season, with small family groups afterward. May associate loosely with other small passerines in mixed flocks when not breeding. Nests are usually low in dense shrubs, with both sexes involved in nesting duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A bright, sweet warble of clear, tinkling phrases delivered from a low perch inside scrub or from the top of a bush. Calls include soft chips and thin tseet notes used to maintain contact within pairs.
