This small finch lives in high Andean grasslands and rocky areas. Yellow patches on its otherwise black wings and tail are especially visible in flight.
The head and body are black, with yellow patches on the wings and tail. The yellow is often hidden when perched but shows clearly in flight.
It uses high-elevation puna grassland, scrub, rocky slopes, and bogs. It takes small seeds from low bushes and the ground, sometimes among other seed-eating birds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.