Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola

The Saffron Finch is a tanager from South America where they are found in lightly wooded areas and open grassland. The male is bright yellow with an orange crown. Females are smaller and usually a duller version of the male.

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Juvenile

Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI	Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI	Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI
Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI Believe it is a juvenile 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI	Juvenile and parent 09/13/2011 - Royal Kona Hotel, Kona, HI Juvenile and parent 09/13/2011 - Royal Kona Hotel, Kona, HI	Believe it is a juvenile, might also be a female 09/13/2011 - Royal Kona Hotel, Kona, HI Believe it is a juvenile, might also be a female 09/13/2011 - Royal Kona Hotel, Kona, HI

Adult

09/08/2011 - Aimakapa Pond, Kona, HI 09/08/2011 - Aimakapa Pond, Kona, HI	08/25/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA 08/25/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA	11/14/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah 11/14/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah
11/14/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah 11/14/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah	09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI 09/07/2011 - Hilton Resort, Big Island, HI	Could be a begging or courtship pose 09/09/2011 - Naalehu, Big Island, HI Could be a begging or courtship pose 09/09/2011 - Naalehu, Big Island, HI
09/09/2011 - Whittington Beach County Park, Big Island, HI 09/09/2011 - Whittington Beach County Park, Big Island, HI	09/12/2011 - Kaloko Drive, Kona, Big Island, HI 09/12/2011 - Kaloko Drive, Kona, Big Island, HI	01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI 01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI
01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI 01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI	01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI 01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI	01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI 01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI
01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI 01/24/2008 - Punchbowl (National Cemetery), Oahu, HI

Diet: Saffron Finches eat seeds, grain, insects and plant matter. Insects are favored during the breeding season.

Courtship: Mating begins with the male chasing the female. If she accepts him, he will sit beside her and "dance" and sing. Saffron finches mate for life.

Male saffron finches are highly territorial and will fight to the death. For this reason, they are sometimes used as fighting birds in South America.

Nesting: Saffron finches are "cavity nesters," meaning they prefer the inside of a tree or a hollowed-out area in bushes. They also will use abandoned bird nests or nest under house roofs.

The female lays three to five eggs, incubates them by herself while the male guards the nest. Both parents feed the hatchlings. Two to three clutches are produced each year.

Habitat and Range: They are found a few of the Island in Hawaii including Oahu and the Big Island. I am not sure about other the Islands.

Vocalization: Pleasant repetitious song that is sung by the male to attract a female and it is favored by bird collectors.

Plumage/Molt: Not sure.

Migration: Not sure about South America, but they are not migratory on Hawaii.

Tongue/feet: No information

Bibliography:

• http://en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed June, 2012
• Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaii's Birds,Hawaiian Audubon Society, 2005

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