The rufous-backed Inca finch is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae.
Region
Peruvian Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in dry intermontane valleys and arid montane scrub on the western and upper Andean slopes of north-central Peru. It favors rocky hillsides with scattered shrubs, cacti, and patches of thorny woodland. The species tolerates some habitat disturbance and can be found along field edges and in shrubby quebradas near small settlements. It forages close to the ground and within low shrub layers, using dense cover for concealment.
Altitude Range
1600–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous-backed Inca finch is a Peruvian endemic tanager adapted to arid Andean scrub. It was historically placed with New World sparrows but is now classified in Thraupidae. It often keeps low in dense shrubs, making it easier to hear than to see. Its striking rufous back and masked face help separate it from other Inca finches.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, moving low through dense shrubs. Territorial during the breeding season, with pairs defending small patches of scrub. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in bushes or among rocks.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A bright, tinkling series of trills and chips, often delivered from the top of a shrub. Calls include sharp contact notes used to maintain cohesion while moving through cover.
Plumage
Rich rufous back and tail with contrasting paler underparts and a distinctive masked face pattern. Underparts are grayish to whitish with buffy flanks; wings are warm brown with subtle edging. Feathering is smooth and compact, suited to scrubby, arid environments.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds of grasses and shrubs, supplemented by insects and other arthropods. It gleans from low foliage and picks seeds from the ground. During the dry season it relies more on hard seeds; in wetter periods it increases insect intake.
Preferred Environment
Forages close to the ground in arid scrub, thorny thickets, and rocky slopes with scattered shrubs and cacti. Also uses field margins and ruderal vegetation near human habitation.
