Stripe-tailed Yellow-Finch Sicalis citrina Scientific name definitions

This yellow-finch has a curiously disjunct distribution across upland areas of eastern and northern South America entirely east of the Andes. It is most widespread in the Brazilian interior, roughly coincident with the expanse of the Cerrado biome. In some respects it is a poorly named bird for the white in the tail is often difficult to see, except from below. Instead, identification of this bird from the sympatric Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola) should focus on the plain olive-colored face and citrine forecrown of males, and the streaked underparts on a yellow background in females. Stripe-tailed Yellow-Finch is generally quite common, but often local, and sometimes forms mixed-species flocks with Grassland Yellow-Finch, especially in the non-breeding season.

11 cm; 10·7–12·9 g. A small, stocky and compact yellow-finch with relatively short and deep bill; head often looks squarish in shape. Male nominate race has head mostly plain yellow with olive wash; upper­parts olive-yellow with fine darker streaking (except on rump); upperwing brownish-grey, yellow edging on upperwing-coverts and flight-feathers; tail dusky, white terminal half on inner web of outer two rectrices; below, entirely yellow with slight olive cast; iris dark brown; bill blue-grey, darker culmen; legs pink to dusky pinkish. Female is brownish above, face dull and lacking pattern other than pale eye-crescents, finely streaked from crown to rump; pale yellow below, streaked brown on breast and flanks; wings brownish, paler (but not bright yellow) edging on upperwing-coverts and flight-feathers; tail has white patterning like that of male, but somewhat reduced; bill dusky, legs dull pink. Juvenile is like female, but browner and more streaked, including face; immature like female, but streaking on breast and flanks more extensive and coarser. Race browni is smaller than nominate, has shorter tail and more slender bill, but differences very slight, ear-coverts possibly a little greener, underparts a purer yellow; occidentalis is similar to nominate, but brighter yellow below, breast with narrow sharply defined streaks.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Also occurs (probably occidentalis) in much of Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija), and (probably nominate) in NE Bolivia (Beni) and perhaps adjacent Brazil.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.