Thick-billed Siskin

The thick-billed siskin (Spinus crassirostris) is a species of bird in the family Fringillidae, the finches and euphonias. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. == Taxonomy and systematics == The thick-billed siskin was originally described in 1877 with the binomial Chrysomitris crassirostris. It was later moved to what was then the subgenus Spinus within genus Carduelis and also spent time in genus Sporagra. Beginning in about 2009 the subgenus was elevated to full genus level and the yellow-rumped siskin, the rest of the New World siskins, and the New World goldfinches were therefore elevated to now-genus Spinus. The thick-billed siskin has two subspecies, the nominate S. c. crassirostris (Landbeck, 1877) and S. c. amadoni (George, W. G., 1964). Some birds with colors intermediate between those of the two subspecies are postulated to be a third subspecies. == Description == The thick-billed siskin is one of the larger members of genus Spinus and has the eponymous thick bill. It is 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) long and weighs about 19 g (0.67 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a black head, neck, and throat with a thin yellow…