This species is a rare visitor from Eurasia. In all plumages, note the white rump visible in flight. Alternate Male: Strikingly patterned with black head, back, and tail. The throat, breast, and shoulders are rusty-orange. The belly is white with dark spots along the flanks. The black wings show a buffy wing bar and a small white patch at the base of the primaries. The bill is dark gray to blackish. Basic Male: Black areas of the head and back have brown feather edges. As the season progresses, the brown edges wear off to reveal the black underneath. The bill is dull yellow with a dusky tip. Female: The back is brown with black scaling. The face is grayish, with dark lines along the sides of the crown and nape. The breast is paler orange, and there is minimal spotting along the flanks. The bill is dull yellow with a dusky tip.

Length: 14 (cm) Wingspan: 22 (cm)

Habitat:

Nests in open woodlands.

Behavior:

Flight is undulating, like that of a goldfinch.

Feeding:

Feeds on seeds and insects. Will visit bird feeders.