Small alpine finch with a quite long pointed bill and long tail. Males have a yellow-green body with gray crown and neck. The female is similar but is lightly streaked on the back. Two strong yellow wingbars and greenish yellow rump are very prominent in both sexes. Found in montane woodland with spruce and pine up to the treeline. Forages both in trees and on the ground. Song is a long series of twitters, trills, buzzes, hisses, and whistles. Calls include a rising nasal “dee” and a high-pitched, rather tinny “dzee.”