Black-headed Greenfinch
Chloris ambigua
黑头金翅雀
Introduction
The black-headed greenfinch is a small finch species with a restricted range encompassing China's Yunnan province, northern Laos, eastern Myanmar, and adjacent border regions of Vietnam, Thailand, and Northeast India. It inhabits subtropical dry forests, shrublands, and open woodland habitats at moderate elevations. The species maintains stable populations in appropriate habitat and is not considered threatened.
Description
This medium-sized finch measures 12.4–14 cm (4.9–5.5 in) in length, making it a compact and relatively robust member of the Fringillidae family. Its most distinctive feature is the dark blackish-olive coloration of the head, which contrasts markedly with the rest of the plumage. The bill is described as pale pinkish-brown and shows the typical conical shape adapted for seed-eating, characteristic of finches. A bright yellow patch on the wings provides an eye-catching field mark, particularly visible in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance, with females displaying the same color pattern as males, though individuals may show subtle variation in overall coloration intensity.
Distribution & Habitat
The black-headed greenfinch occupies a relatively restricted range in mainland Southeast Asia. Its distribution centers on China's Yunnan province, extending through northern Laos and eastern Myanmar, with peripheral populations in adjacent areas of Vietnam, Thailand, and Northeast India. Two subspecies are recognized: C. a. taylori occurs in southeast Tibet, while the nominate subspecies C. a. ambigua covers the remaining eastern and northeastern range including east and northeast Myanmar, south China, Laos, and extreme northeast India. The species inhabits subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry shrubland environments.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Chloris
- eBird Code
- bkhgre1
Subspecies (2)
-
Chloris ambigua ambigua
mountains of southeastern Tibet to southwestern China, northern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northwestern Tonkin
-
Chloris ambigua taylori
mountains of southeastern Tibet and far western Sichuan
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.