Tiaris canora is the Latin name of this 7-8 cm bird, with yellow feathers around the neck in an eye-catching contrast with its olive green body and a very family behaviour in the fields it inhabits.

That makes him an easy prey to catch as it has been proved by some polls made in mountainous communities of La Palma, which revealed capture levels over 60 percent, mainly by children who are unaware of the danger these birds are exposed to.
It is also significant the effects of other hunters attracted by its quality to adjust to live in a cage and sing, since the Cuban grassquit imitates the repeated inflections of a voice.

When there is not mating season, they gather in small families, and look for food in seeds, small fruits and crops.

During the breeding season, the couples establish a very strong link, the males become extremely jealous and fight among themselves for the territory, their nesting season runs from April to June.

This bird builds a globular nest, much bigger than its size, and most of the times over thorny trees, using straws, fibers and thin roots, so once it is set they lay two or three off-white eggs.

The big efforts made by the Ministry of Science Technology and the Environment (CITMA) are aimed at increasing the information about this exclusive and curious bird of our country in schools, districts; specially in the range of Pinar, although it may be found in any other zone of the island.

To contribute to keep this bird brightening Cuban countryside with its trill in this century is an effort for the benefit of biodiversity in the province, which has become the house of more than hundred species of endemic, resident and migratory birds.

(Guerrillero.co.cu)