The thick-billed siskin has an adult length of between 13.5 and 14 centimetres (5.3 and 5.5in). The bill often has a silvery base and is noticeable thicker than other related siskins. The male closely resembles the hooded siskin (Spinus magellanicus) and has a black head and throat, greenish-yellow upper parts (sometimes streaked with dark markings) and bright yellow underparts. It differs from the hooded siskin in having a whitish-grey midbelly. The immature male has a black head but is otherwise less conspicuous than the mature male, being more greyish-olive above and greyish below. The female is similar but lacks the black head and is altogether much duller in appearance, more greyish-olive, with paler underparts.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This bird of the high Andes ranges from western Peru and central Chile to northwestern Argentina. Its altitudinal range is 3,000 to 4,000 metres (10,000 to 13,000ft) in the northern part of its range but descends to 2,100 metres (7,000ft) further south. Typical habitat is Polylepis woodland and open country with scrub.[2]
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