Like the American Cardinal, this South American bird is a finch, a songbird with a strong conical beak for cracking seeds and sturdy legs for perching. Surprisingly, its large feet also allow it to walk on floating vegetation as it feeds in wet areas. Like many other finches, its beauty and musical call have made it a popular cage bird.
Red-capped Cardinal
Paroaria coronata
Fact File
Where to see them: Wings of the World
Habitat: Scrubland
Diet: Seeds and invertebrates
