A Hen Alario Finch

      This is a hen of the carduelan finch species Serinus alario, often known as the Alario Finch. She clearly shows the gender dimorphism displayed by so many of the wild carduelan finches; in this case her 'hood' is dark grey rather than black, and her overall colouring is duller than that of the males in her race. Still, I find her rather attractive, in her own quiet, rather distinctive, way!

      The Alario Finch is native to the often-dry, lightly-treed grasslands of southern Africa.