Fairly common to uncommon, but often rather local in Patagonian steppe and grassland, often with nearby stony areas and low banks or bluffs. Found in pairs or flocks, and like other yellow-finches feeds mainly on the ground. Both sexes rather drab, but distinctive in range (no overlap with other species of yellow-finches). Yellow on male strongest on throat; female can appear drab and colorless, with yellow wash on belly often hard to see.