The Story
I photographed this juvenile Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) at Finca Ecoturística San Javier, in the vereda Chucuní near Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. Adult males are bright yellow with an orange crown. Saffron Finches usually nest in cavities, using sites such as old hornero nests, bamboo stems and spaces under roofs. The species is tolerant of people and often visits bird tables. IUCN lists it as Least Concern. Males are territorial and polygamous, mating with two females in a nesting season.
I used a Canon R5 with the RF 800mm f/11 for this one, at 1/125 sec, f/11, ISO 800, −0.5 EV. Finca San Javier offers guided birding as part of its work to help conserve the tropical dry forest of the Chucuní area.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) belongs to the family Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2018), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List