Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
The Black-chinned Siskin is a small, lively finch native to southern South America, including the windswept landscapes of Patagonia. Males are easily recognized by their black chin, forehead, and crown, contrasted with olive-green upperparts and yellow underparts. Females are duller, lacking the black markings but still showing hints of yellow. These sociable birds are often seen in flocks, sometimes mixing with other siskins and finches. Their cheerful, twittering calls are a familiar sound in Patagonian woodlands, gardens, and even urban parks. Adaptable and resilient, the Black-chinned Siskin thrives in a variety of habitats, from native Nothofagus forests to open shrublands and human-altered environments. During the breeding season, they build cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs, where the female incubates the eggs. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, but they also consume insects, especially when feeding young. The species is widespread and common throughout its range, making it one of the most frequently encountered finches in southern Chile and Argentina.
Habitat
Found in Patagonian forests, shrublands, gardens, and urban parks, often at low to mid elevations.
Foraging
Feeds mainly on seeds from grasses and trees, occasionally taking insects, foraging both on the ground and in vegetation.