Corsican Finch

The Corsican finch is a small finch, with a length of between 11.5 and 12.5 cm (4.5 and 4.9 in). It is very similar to the citril finch but it has a brown back marked with dark streaks and the yellow underparts and face have less of a green tinge than seen in the citril finch. It also has greyish rather than olive uppertail coverts. The colours of the females are duller than the males.

Vocalisations. The Corsican finch has vocalisations similar to those of the citril finch but the flight call has been described as weaker and moretremulous while the song is longer, with more structure and has been compared to that of a Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes).

The Corsican finch is found on Corsica and Sardinia as well as the islands of Gorgona, Capraia and Elba in the Tuscan Archipelago. During the breeding season the Corsican finch is found from lowland garrigue up to montane areas where it inhabits dry scrub and conifer forests, mainly of European black pine (Pinus nigra) and maritime pine (P. pinaster), which may be open or semi open. It can also be found in heathland with Tree heath (Erica) and bushes, mostly Genista and bramble (Rubus), as well as alder (Alnus) groves and areas where there are lightly scattered conifers. In subalpine zones this species occurs in low juniper (Juniperus). When not breeding these birds make local movements into areas of scrub in lowland valleys, plains and coastal areas.