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Monte Yellow-Finch Sicalis mendozae Scientific name definitions

Josep del Hoyo, Nigel Collar, and Guy M. Kirwan
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated September 16, 2019

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

Field Identification

13·5–14 cm; 16·5–19·8 g. Adult male is one of the brightest-coloured Sicalis finches; the intensity of its yellow underparts pigmentation is second only to that of S. lutea, and it lacks the olive-tinged throat and breast of formerly conspecific S. olivascens. In breeding plumage, the head is golden-yellow (slightly little duller than the underparts) with grey lores, an unmarked mantle washed fairly intense yellow-olive (offering little contrast with the crown) and rump brighter olive (like in S. olivascens); S. olivascens shows brown shaft-streaks on its back or brownish feather centres, creating a streaked or mottled effect, respectively, as also observed in fresh-plumaged male S. auriventris, which also has a more yellow rump. In winter (fresh) plumage, the mantle is pale grey, as in S. auriventris, S. olivascens, S. lebruni and S. lutea in fresh plumage; outer webs of secondaries and wing-coverts are broadly fringed white or pinkish; tail fairly well notched. This plumage is very similar to that of S. lebruni, but there is much less grey on the flanks and the bases of the primaries are fringed yellow or olive, not grey as in S. lebruni; compared to fresh-plumaged S. olivascens, but the latter has only narrow grey fringes to the outer webs of the tertials, not covering the entire web and often shows some grey on the ear-coverts. Female most closely resembles female S. lebruni but is best distinguished by the olive rump (vs. brown in S. lebruni) and the little or no olive on the lesser coverts (usually prominent in female S. lebruni). Compared to female S. olivascens, has an intense sulphur-yellow patch covering the upper belly that sometimes reaches the throat, unmarked upperparts, a shorter bill and brighter yellow fringes at the base of the outer three rectrices. Possibly sympatric S. auriventris is much larger and bulkier, with a more extensive yellow belly, notably long primary extension and a relatively long, sharp bill with a straight culmen. Juvenile and immature undescribed.

Systematics History

Recently proposed for species-rank separation from S. olivascens (and in fact most closely related to S. lebruni) (1) on basis of its (in breeding male) brighter yellow plumage (1); no olive tinge to breast (1); (in both sexes) unmarked vs streaked or mottled back (1); smaller size (on published data (1) effect size for bill –3.46, score 2); lower-elevation arid-shrubland habitat (600–2100 vs 2250–4500 m; 1); and (“strikingly” different) song, a rhythmic, harsh, metallic and fast-rolling series of ascending and descending syllables with much mimicry, vs several rapidly consecutive series each consisting of 3–4 rapid, harsh, dry trilled notes, entire phrase typically ending with a distinctive final note (allow 3). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

W Argentina from NE Catamarca S to C Mendoza and NW San Luis (1).

Habitat

Arid shrubby areas, where the vegetation rarely exceeds 1·5–2 m tall, with isolated shrubs or small groups of 5–6 shrubs widely separated on bare soil during the dry season, preferably near creeks or canyons in wind-blown and wind-eroded sedimentary mountains within the Monte Desert. More specifically, in Catamarca province, the dominant shrub in areas occupied by this finch is the creosote Larrea cuneifolia, with lower densities of L. divaricata, Cercidium praecox, Cassia aphylla, Prosopis flexuosa saplings, and isolated Bulnesia retama bushes; in Mendoza, the dominant large shrubs in areas where S. mendozae is found are Zucagnia punta, Larrea cuneifolia, Prosopidiastrum globosum, Bougainvillea spinosa, Ephedra ochreata, Condalia microphylla, Gochnatia glutinosa, Schinus polygamus, small Prosopis flexuosa trees, and cacti such as Denmozna rhodocanta and Trichocereus candicans; in San Luis it is found in deep canyons characterized by Zucagnia punctata, Senecio subulatus, Ramorinoa girolae, Cyclolepis genistoides, Capparis atamisquea, Atriplex lithophila, Eryngium paniculatum, cacti like Cereus aethiops, Trichocereus candicans, Opuntia sulphurea, Echinopsis leucantha and Pyrrhocactus sp., and stunted Prosopis flexuosa; and in San Juan it was recorded in extremely dry areas dominated by a sparse shrubland of Larrea cuneifolia growing on flat ground covered by a mosaic of small rocks and accompanied by the cactus Tunilla corrugata and an unidentified grass. Elevational range 900–2100 m in Andes and at least 600–770 m in Sierra de las Quijadas.

Movement

May move altitudinally, descending to lower elevations in austral winter, but lack of records in a well-surveyed locality, Reserva Ñacuñán, in the lowland Monte desert of Mendoza, suggests that the species is not a marked altitudinal migrant.

Diet and Foraging

During winter, one of the most granivorous birds in the Monte Desert, with 99·5% of its diet being seeds (especially Chloe sp. and Aristida sp.), and just 0·5% of arthropods. Observed feeding on seeds that had fallen on the ground, and also reported fluttering to pull seeds off grass stalks. Gathers in small flocks post-breeding, with groups of 10–20 reported in Jun/Jul, exceptionally a flock of 30 and at least during winter and at the onset of breeding it roosts communally, in groups of up to 40 individuals; however, at this season pairs may be obvious even within flocks. Occasionally congregates at ephemeral water sources to drink communally.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song a succession of rhythmic, harsh, metallic, and fast-rolling series of variable ascending and descending syllables, principally involving simple notes but also including complex mimicry that is incorporated once per song bout. Regularly imitates other birds, including faster-version renderings of the songs of Andean Swift (Aeronautes andicolus), Rufous-banded Miner (Geositta rufipennis hoyi), Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), a mockingbird (Mimus patagonicus or M. triurus), Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), Golden-billed Saltator (Saltator aurantiirostris), Cinnamon Warbling-finch (Poospiza ornata), Carbonated Sierra-finch (Phrygilus carbonarius), and calls of Steinbach’s Canastero (Pseudasthenes steinbachi) and the southern race of Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco anthracinus). The imitations follow each other in fast succession, giving the song a fast pace and musical sound. Aurally, the simple songs of S. mendozae distantly resemble those of S. uropygialis and >em>S. auriventris. Usually sings from exposed rocks on sides of deep canyons or from cavities on rock walls. Calls include a “tweep” heard mostly in flight and described as a “musical call note, a pleasant tweep tweep that suggested familiar notes of other flocking finches”, as well as a short “tick” uttered continually by members of a pair and flocks while perched, and a high-pitched warble uttered usually in excitement. Less frequently heard calls include metallic upsweeping notes and unstructured soft notes.

Breeding

Few data, and the eggs are not formally described. Probably tends to be loosely colonial, like formerly conspecific S. olivascens. Several nests found mid Jan were on a mountain slope and were shallow cups constructed of straw, lined with hair and wool, and built in cavities. One nest had a diameter of 80 mm and was 15 mm deep, and was 300 mm inside a c. 100 mm-wide tunnel. Other nests were found in Mar and birds in breeding condition have been collected in Dec. No further information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common in most of range. Recorded within Sierra las Quijadas National Park.

Distribution of the Monte Yellow-Finch - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Monte Yellow-Finch

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

del Hoyo, J., N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Monte Yellow-Finch (Sicalis mendozae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.monyef1.01
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