Red-crested finch

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

A small bird of arid regions and deciduous forests, the red-crestedfinch is easily recognized by the bright red erectile crest on the males’ heads. Its plumage is reddish-brown, with greyish flanks and a dull chest.

The female is less colourful. The olive-brown tones of her plumage provide effective camouflage in her environment.

This tropical bird’s short, conical bill reflects its adaptation to a seed-based diet.

Reproduction

The species breeds mainly during the southern rainy season, from November to February, when food is abundant.

The small, cup-shaped nest is made of twigs and is built low in shrubs or among tall grasses. The female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs, which she incubates for 12 to 13 days.

The young leave the nest after about two weeks but remain dependent on their parents for food for some time.

Diet

The red-crested finch feeds mainly on seeds, which it cracks open with its sturdy bill.

This bird often supplements its diet with insects and larvae. These are especially important for the young, as their high protein content helps meet their nutritional needs.

The red-crested finch also eats small fruits when they are available, helping to disperse their seeds.

Predators

Like most small South American songbirds, the red-crested finch is vulnerable to birds of prey found in its habitat, such as kestrels, hawks, and caracaras.

Arboreal snakes and small carnivores also pose a threat, as do coatis and foxes, which are known to raid their nests.

Habitat

The species lives in open and semi-open habitats such as wooded savannas, forest edges, scrub, and sometimes even gardens.

It is found across much of South America, especially in southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

Ecology, behaviour

The male is a territorial bird that actively defends its space during the breeding season. Its song, melodic and repeated, plays an important role in intraspecific communication (i.e., between members of the same species).

Usually seen alone, in pairs, or in family groups, it is generally rather discreet in its behaviour. By helping to disperse seeds and control insect populations, it plays an important role in the food chain.

French name

Araguira rougeâtre

Scientific name

Coryphospingus cucullatus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Birds

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Thraupidae

Size

Lenght: 13 cm

Weight

11 to 18 g

Life span

10 years

Status

Stable

At the Biodôme

Introduced to the Biodôme’s Tropical Rainforest in January 2026, the red-crested finch flies freely within the ecosystem. Its strong, distinctive song makes it easy to spot.

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