Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon and patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996). The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
This species is found in central and south Chile (north to Atacama) and south Argentina (north to west Neuquén), south to Tierra del Fuego (Ridgely and Tudor 1989). It formerly occurred on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) but there have been only three specimens collected and an unsubstantiated field sighting since the species was first recorded as 'common' in 1841 (Woods and Woods 1997). The species is known from seven protected areas: Copahue-Caviahue Provincial Park (M. Babarskas and J. Veiga pers. comm.); Lanín and Nahuel Huapi (Neuquén), Los Alerces (Chubut), Perito Moreno (Santa Cruz) and Tierra del Fuego National Parks in Argentina, and Magallanes National Reserve in Chile (Tabilo et al. 1996).
This species is found in southern temperate grasslands, pastures, agricultural land and puna grassland at elevations up to 3,300 m (Stotz et al. 1996), descending to sea level during the winter or at any season when the higher altitudes are briefly covered by snow (Ridgely and Tudor 1989). Breeding occurs mostly on ridges at or just above the timberline (Ridgely and Tudor 1989). Intense grazing is rapidly degrading its preferred grassland habitats (Stotz et al. 1996).
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-bridled Finch Melanodera xanthogramma. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-bridled-finch-melanodera-xanthogramma on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.