A small, flighty, brown-lemon siskin of high-elevation grassland and shrubland above 2000 meters of elevation; partial to rocky outcrops. The lemon rump, visible in flight, and the white outer tail feathers most easily identify it. The male has a yellowish throat and underparts; the female is browner with a lightly streaked throat. The species is most often found in small groups of 2-10 individuals. A high-pitched two-note “tcheew-cheee” contact call frequently leads to detection. The similar Cape Canary has a distinctive gray hindneck and lacks the Drakensberg Siskin’s white on the outer tail feathers.