Characteristics of Saffron Finches

Sicalis flaveola, also known as the saffron finch, is a South American tanager that inhabits northern Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, north-east Brazil and central Argentina. In the wild, they are found in lightly wooded areas and open grassland. The energetic and territorial nature of this bird makes it a bad choice for an indoor cage, though it is a popular addition to mixed aviaries. "Personalities" of individual birds vary, but there are a few physical and behavioral characteristics common to all four subspecies of saffron finches.

  1. Male Coloring and Markings

    • The adult male has a bright yellow body with an orange crown and black markings on his back and wings. Juvenile males are paler and might be mistaken for females. The male's color tends to intensify during breeding season and becomes richer in color each year. Saffron finches have dark eyes and gray-pale pink legs. The upper beak is gray-black, but the lower beak is white. They are about 5.5 to 6 inches from head to tail.

    Female Coloring and Markings

    • Females are typically slightly smaller than males, and mature females are a duller-colored version of the male. Within the subspecies Sicalis flaveola pelzelni, females are olive-brown with heavy dark streaks. Females are generally less aggressive toward other birds than males.

    Behavior

    • These birds are mainly seed and grain eaters, but will feed on various insects and plants as well, especially when breeding. Male saffron finches are highly territorial and will fight to the death. For this reason, they are sometimes used as fighting birds in South America. They love to fly and enjoy bathing. The male is more likely to sing than the female. The song is repetitive.

    Breeding

    • Mating begins with the male chasing the female. If she accepts him, he will sit beside her and "dance" and sing. Saffron finches mate for life. Saffron finches are "cavity nesters," meaning they prefer the inside of a tree or a hollowed-out area in bushes. The nests they build tend to be rather crude. Alternatively, they might use the abandoned nests of other birds. In captivity, they are most likely to lay eggs in large nest boxes. The female incubates the eggs by herself while the male guards the nest. They lay three to five eggs, which can be brown or white with brown spots, two to three times per year, which hatch in approximately 14 days. Both parents feed the hatchlings, which begin to fledge at about two weeks. They acquire adult plumage at one to three years, with males maturing more slowly than females. The saffron finch reaches sexual maturity at about 2 years of age. The birds live up to 10 years.