The yellow-striped brushfinch (Atlapetes citrinellus) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. This bird's systematic history is described as monotypic, meaning that this bird is the only member of its particular taxonomic group and there are no subspecies[2].
The Yellow-striped brushfinch was introduced to ornithology by Jean Cabanis in 1883. Cabanis was a German ornithologist[2]. The scientific name, atlapetes citrinellus, with citrinellus meaning lemon color or citrine.
Description
The Yellow-Striped Brushfinch is mainly yellow with hints of dark olive on the body. The head and cheek are this dark olive and are separated by a bright yellow “eyebrow”. The feathers and beak are a dark black color. An average male is 17 centimeters (6.6 inches) and 28 grams (1 ounce)[2].
General Habitat
The Yellow-Striped Brushfinch only lives in the Yungas forests located in Northwestern Argentina; this specific bird species’ system is terrestrial. The specific area of living is northwest Argentina from Jujuy and Salta through Tucumán to Catamarca and this habitat also travels into Bolivia. The Yellow-striped brushfinch is fairly common within its mapped range. The species likes to stay near the large Alder trees in the area. This habitat is classified as a forest and a subtropical/tropical moist lowland[2]. The upper elevation limit is 3,100 (10,170.6 feet) metres and the lower elevation limit is 510 metres (1,673.23 feet). The reason why the species is restricted to this small area is unknown[3].
Diet
The bird forages low to the ground and perches below eye-level. When consuming fruit, the Yellow-striped brushfinch will be in the forest canopy in pairs or in families. The bird mostly eats beetles, spiders, and other invertebrates during all seasons[2]. As of October 2025, they have been found to consume more fruit and play a large role in seed dispersion[4].
Call
These birds have a simple call with a high-pitched, fast chirp and song[2].
Breeding
Their breeding season is November through January or February. They typically lay 2-3 eggs (light pink with brown spots)[2]. They have a stable population, with no immediate threat to their environment. This species was not recorded in any trade databases reviewed. There is no indication that the species is traded or used in any other contexts. For in-place research and monitoring, there is no Action Recovery Plan and no systematic monitoring scheme[3].
Population
As of June 2024, the population is decreasing but not at a concerning rate (best estimate of reduction is less than 5%). From the IUCN Red List category and criteria global assessment, they are of least concern. They are dependent on a forest environment, and tree coverage in their mapped range has declined by 1.9% over the past 10 years. They are not migratory birds, and they have an average generation length of about 3.19 years. There is no recorded number of mature individuals as of October 2025[3].
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