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SAFFRON FINCH
Sicalis flaveola
July 30, 2006
| Description | : | What a find! As we were shooting a juvenile Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) we noticed a streak of yellow fly by and land on a nearby tree. We immediately swung our cameras in its direction and managed a few shots before the bird left. Looking at the pictures later, we were mystified by this bird, it was like nothing we had ever seen. Checking through our birding reference books, the closest we found was Western Tanager, although we felt the beak was the wrong shape. We posted several pix on a couple of Internet forums -- and got an answer. A birder from Sweden on www.birdforum.net ID'd the bird as a Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) a non-migratory native of South America. This finch is apparently sought after as a caged pet and, according to an English birder on birdforum, is well-known as an escape artist. The bird is also known as Brazilian Saffron Finch, Sparrow Finch and Yellow Finch.
Original size 11.5x11.5@200dpi |
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