The South American red siskin (Spinus cucullatus) is a critically endangered – primarily due to trapping for the cagebird trade – finch which has a vibrant red plumage, a stark contrast to the more common green-and-yellow European siskin. The male is bright red, while the female is a predominantly grey and brownish bird with a salmon-pink-tinged breast and a red rump and tail. Found in northern South America, particularly Venezuela and Guyana, the red siskin is an emblem of conservation, with efforts to save it inspiring Indigenous-led conservation groups and influencing national identity, as seen on Venezuelan currency. It inhabits open, relatively dry forests, forest edges, grasslands with trees, and savanna bush islands in South America, particularly in northern Venezuela and Guyana.
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