Black-crested Finch Lophospingus pusillus Scientific name definitions

As is the case with so many Neotropical finches, the genus Lophospingus has now been found to be a tanager based on genetic data. The “crested finches” appear to be sister to the White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata) and these in turn are part of a clade which includes the Common Diuca-Finch (Diuca diuca), Paroaria “cardinals”, Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana), and Schistochlamys tanagers! This is quite a diverse set of species, although many have a thick bill with a curved culmen, a yellowish or grayish bill with a dark culmen, and most walk rather than hop. The Black-crested Finch is the southern component of the Lophospingus species pair. It is a boldly patterned bird, with a black and white head pattern and a noticeable and pointed crest. The crown and crest are black, while the supercilium is white, contrasting with a broad black mask; furthermore the malar is white and contrasts strongly with a black throat. Much of the body is grayish, darker above than below, and the blackish tail has obvious white tail corners. This is a finch of dry Chaco woodlands, often areas where there are large cacti, a favorite place to put their nests. This finch forages on the ground, largely for seeds and insects, sometimes in small groups. They can be a conspicuous member of the avifauna.

S Bolivia (S Santa Cruz, E Chuquisaca and E Tarija) and W Paraguay S to C Argentina (Salta and Formosa S to E San Juan, N San Luis and W Córdoba).

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.