About Spinus magellanicus (Vieillot, 1805)
Hooded siskins (Spinus magellanicus) measure 10 to 14 cm in total length. Males are mostly green on their upper bodies and yellow on their under bodies, with a solid black head. They also have a narrow yellow collar, a yellow rump, a black tail with yellow sides at the base, and black wings marked with a broad yellow band. Females have duller plumage overall: they have a green-brown head, yellow-green breast and sides, and a whitish belly. The species produces a fast, varied twittering song, which may include imitations of other bird species, and can sing while perched or in flight. This bird lives in a range of habitats including woodland, savannas, scrubland, farmland, parks, and gardens, and can be found from sea level up to 5,000 m in elevation. Its range extends across South America: in eastern South America, it occurs from central Argentina north to central Brazil; in the Andean region, it occurs from northwestern Argentina and northern Chile north to central Colombia; and an isolated population lives in southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, and the Brazilian state of Roraima. Hooded siskins are commonly found in flocks, and feed in trees, bushes, or on the ground. Their diet is mainly made up of seeds, and also includes buds, leaves, and some insects. Geophagy (earth-eating) has been observed in this species.
