The Yellow-faced Siskin is a small finch about 10 cm long. Adult males have a black crown and bright yellow face and underparts, while females are more yellowish olive.
The adult male has a black crown, bright yellow face, sides of the neck, and underparts, with pale yellow-olive upperparts marked by dark streaks. The female is more yellowish olive above. The tail is slightly forked.
It occurs in caatinga, forest edges, second growth, and croplands in lowlands up to about 500 m. Diet information is limited; seeds and fruit are thought to be eaten.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.