Coal-crested Finch

The coal-crested Finch is a rare and near-threatened bird species. Their generation length is 2.4 years, and their current population is decreasing. The species is characterized by its long spiky crest and its small size. It is a dichromatic species; both males and females have the diagnostic crest, but females are brown and males are black, white and gray. Juvenile coloration is the same as the female, but with a white belly and lower mandible. Their most common calls are soft.

Coal-crested finches are distributed from Eastern Bolivia to Northeast and Central Brazil. They have also been found in Northern Argentina. Their elevation range is 200 to 1200 meters. They are residents, and there are no definite proven patterns of their migration. They are not migrants. Coal-crested finches prefer habitats with exposed ground.

Coal-crested finches move in silent hops at varying speeds. Their skills are limited on the ground, and they cannot stay balanced on grass. When preening or resting, they hide in dense tree vegetation. They forage alone, in pairs, or in flocks. They capture their prey on the leaves and branches of trees. Coal-crested finches are omnivorous, and their diet varies depending on the season and reproductive activity. Their diet consists mainly of grass, fruits, and arthropods.