Saffron Finch

The saffron finch was formally described in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 12th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Fringilla flaveola. The specific epithet is a diminutive of the Latin flavus meaning "golden" or "yellow". The type locality is Suriname. The saffron finch is now placed in the genus Sicalis that was introduced in 1828 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie. Five subspecies are recognised: * S. f. flaveola (Linnaeus, 1766) – Trinidad, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas * S. f. valida Bangs & Penard, TE, 1921 – Ecuador and northwest Peru * S. f. brasiliensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – east Brazil * S. f. pelzelni Sclater, PL, 1872 – east Bolivia, Paraguay, southeast Brazil, north Argentina and Uruguay * S. f. koenigi Hoy, G, 1978 – northwest Argentina

Typically nesting in cavities, the saffron finch makes use of sites such as abandoned rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus) nests, bamboo branches and under house roofs - this species is tolerant of human proximity, appearing at suburban areas and frequenting bird tables. They have a pleasant but repetitious song which, combined with their appearance, has led to them being kept as caged birds in many areas. Males are polygamous, mating with two females during the nesting season, and territorial, which has led to the species being used for blood sporting with two males put in a cage in order to fight.