The grey-hooded sierra finch is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae.
Region
Southern Andes and Patagonian steppe
Typical Environment
Occurs from central and northern Chile and adjacent Andean Argentina south into Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, with local presence in western Bolivia and southern Peru. It favors open scrub, grasslands, puna slopes, and the edges of agricultural lands and settlements. In the far south it can be found down to coastal steppe and windswept shrublands, while farther north it is more typical of montane valleys and high Andean foothills. It uses hedgerows, rocky slopes, and brushy creek lines for nesting and cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its finch-like look, the grey-hooded sierra finch is a tanager (family Thraupidae). It readily uses open, human-altered areas such as fields and town edges, especially in the Andes and Patagonian steppe. Pairs are strongly territorial in the breeding season but gather in small flocks at other times. Its name commemorates the naturalist Claudio Gay, reflecting its strong association with Chile.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Breeds in pairs that defend small territories, placing a cup nest low in shrubs, grass tussocks, or among rocks. Outside the breeding season it forms small, loose flocks that may join mixed-species groups. Both sexes participate in provisioning the young, and birds often forage together on the ground.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a bright, tinkling series of short trills and chirps delivered from a low perch or during short song-flights. Calls include thin metallic tsip notes and sharper chips used to keep contact within flocks.
Plumage
Adult male shows a smooth grey hood and breast contrasting with a warmer brown back and rufous to cinnamon belly; wings and tail are dusky with pale edging. Females are duller and browner, with a greyer face and less vivid underparts. Both sexes have fairly plain, non-glossy plumage suited to open steppe and scrub.
Diet
Feeds mainly on grass and herb seeds, complemented by buds and small fruits when available. In the breeding season it adds insects and other small invertebrates to meet protein demands. It forages mostly on or near the ground, picking seeds from soil, low plants, and gravelly verges, and will glean from shrubs in winter. Opportunistic around fields and villages, it takes spilled grain and weed seeds.
Preferred Environment
Open country with scattered shrubs, grasslands, and field margins are preferred feeding sites. It commonly uses roadside verges, rocky slopes, and pasture edges, and in Patagonia frequents low, wind-swept shrub-steppe.
