Learn more about the initiative
Explore our download area, where you can find and download documentation, scientific publications, presentations and informative material about the work we do.
General information
- 2025 Annual Report.
- Language: English.
- 2024 Annual Report
- Language: English.
- 2023 Annual Report
- Learn about our 2023 achievements.
- Language: English.
- 2022 Annual Report
- Learn about our 2022 achievements.
- Language: English.
- One Pager - RSI 2022.
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin 2021 Annual Report.
- The Red Siskin Initiative uses a multi-dimensional approach, including research, education, and conservation actions to save the endangered Red Siskin, following our action plan. Here are our achievements for the year 2021, by strategic area.
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin Inititiave Executive Summary.
- Information about the objective of the Initiative, the partners that collaborate with us and the activities to rescue the Red Siskin from extinction.
- Language: English.
- Ensuring Bird Friendly habitats while promoting social and economic justice.
- Promotional pamphlet about our "Birds and Coffee" proyect.
- Language: English.
- Rescuing, raising and reintroducing more Red Siskins.
- Promotional pamphlet.
- Language: English.
- Work Plan for Red Siskin Conservation.
- This document outlines the action plan and the activities of the RSI.
- Language: English.
- Strategy for the global conservation of the Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus) 2015-2035.
- Language: English.
- Descriptive sheet of the Red Book of the Venezuelan Fauna.
- Description of the species threat situation according to data from the Red Book of the Venezuelan Fauna (4th edition) published in 2014. For more information: Click here
- Language: English.
- Descriptive sheet of the Red List of Threatened Species.
- Descriptive sheet of the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species (Last update in 2016). For more information: Click here
- Language: English.
Newsletters
- Newsletter - Annual Report 2024
- RSI Highlights 2024
- Language: English.
- RSI Highlights 2024
- Holidays message 2024
- Language: English.
- Language: English.
- Giving Tuesday 2024
- Give today and save the red siskin
- Language: English.
- Give today and save the red siskin
- Newsletter - September 2024
- Language: English.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter - Annual Report 2023
- RSI Highlights 2023
- Language: English.
- RSI Highlights 2023
- Holidays message 2023
- Language: English.
- Language: English.
- Giving Tuesday 2023 - Extended message
- Support the red siskin chicks
- Language: English.
- Support the red siskin chicks
- Giving Tuesday 2023
- Help a red siskin
- Language: English.
- Help a red siskin
- Newsletter - September 2023
- ‘Egg-citing’ news!🐣
- Language: English.
- ‘Egg-citing’ news!🐣
- Fundraising Campaign 2023
- Support red siskin conservation
- Language: English.
- Support red siskin conservation
- Newsletter - Annual Report 2022
- RSI Highlights 2022
- Language: English.
- RSI Highlights 2022
- Giving Tuesday 2022
- Give today and save the red siskin
- Language: English.
- Give today and save the red siskin
- First chicks fledge at the Red Siskin Conservation Center in Venezuela!
- Special announcement
- Language: English.
- Special announcement
- Holidays message 2021.
- Language: English.
- Giving Tuesday 2021.
- Give today and save the Red Siskin.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – October 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- The Special Edition Red Siskin Coffee – April 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – February 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Holidays message 2020.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – November 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – July 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – April 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – December 2019.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – June 2019.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – September 2018.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – March 2018.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter - August 2017.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter - November 2016.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter - Spring 2016.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – November 2015.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – Spring 2015.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
Education and information
- Guidebook for plant managment
- A tool for ex-situ breeding of the Venezuelan Red Siskin for conservation purposes.
- Language: Spanish
- Decoding the Red Siskin’s genome.
- Poster with the description of the Red Siskin’s genome. The studies were conducted at the Smithsonian Institution (USA).
- Language: English
- The Red Siskin – Infographics.
- Illustration that shows the physical characteristics of the Red Siskin, the habitat where it lives, its feeding and reproduction habits, and the threats that compromise the existence of this species in Venezuela.
- Author: Ana Lora
- Language: English
- How can you help? – Brochure.
- Information brochure on the RSI.
- Language: English
- Red Siskin recovery project brochure.
- Printing metrial.
- Language: English
Scientific publications
- The role of socialization network to understand the adoption of demand-reduction behaviors: The red siskin's breeders community case study
- Ada Sánchez-Mercado, Lisandro Morán, Alene Cardozo-Urdaneta, Lisbeth Bethelmy.
- Wiley - Conservation Science and Practice. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70086
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2025
- Ampliación de la distribución del Cardenalito (Spinus cucullatus) en Colombia y primer registro en el departamento de La Guajira
- Naimeth Corso-Solano, Carlos Aya-Cuero, Gabriel Rodríguez-Ovalle.
- Ornitología Colombiana. DOI: 10.59517/oc.e591
- Language: Spanish.
- Year of publication: 2025.
- Monitoring change: A Behavior-Centered Theory of Change for effective demand reduction interventions
- Ada Sánchez-Mercado, Lisandro Moran, María D. Pineda, Arlene Cardozo-Urdaneta & Jon Paul Rodríguez.
- Wiley - Conservation Science and Practice. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.13222
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2023.
- Illegal wildlife trade networks: finding creative opportunities for conservation intervention in challenging circumstances
- A. Sanchez-Mercado , A. Cardozo-Urdaneta, K. M. Rodrıguez-Clark, L. Morán, L. Ovalle, M. Angel Arvelo, J. Morales-Campos, B. Coyle & M. J. Braun.
- Animal Conservation, 23. DOI: 10.1111/acv.12587
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2020.
- Social network analysis reveals specialized trade in an Endangered songbird
- A. Sanchez-Mercado, A. Cardozo-Urdaneta, L. Moran, L. Ovalle, M. A. Arvelo, J. Morales-Campos, B. Coyle, M. J. Braun & K. M. Rodrıguez-Clark.
- Animal Conservation. Print ISSN 1367-9430. DOI: 10.1111/acv.12514
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2019.
- Evaluating a potential source of founders for ex situ conservation efforts: Genetic differentiation between disjunct populations of the endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus)
- Rodriguez-Clark, K. M., Davidson B., Kingston S., Coyle B. J., Duchesne P., Braun M. J
- Endangered Species Research. 36: 183-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00898
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2018.
- How to deal with ground truthing affected by human-induced habitat change?: Identifying high-quality habitats for the Critically Endangered Red Siskin. Ecology and Evolution.
- Ada Sánchez-Mercado, Kathryn M. Rodríguez-Clark, Jhonathan Miranda, José R. Ferrer-Paris, Brian Coyle, Samuel Toro, Arlene Cardozo-Urdaneta, Michael J. Braun.
- Wiley - Ecology and Evolution. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3628
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2017.
- Miscelánea - Iniciativa Cardenalito.
- Miguel A. Arvelo, Jesús Morales-Campos & M. Valentina Cedeño.
- Confederación Ornitológica Española.
- Language: Spanish.
- Year of publication: 2017.
- The Red Siskin Initiative: Saving An Endangered Finch In Partnership With Aviculturists
- Miguel Arvelo, Michael J. Braun, Brian J. Coyle, Sam Davis, Zirza Diaz, Jonathan Fink, Warren Lynch, Paula Hansen, Paul Marinari, Jonathan Miranda, Steve Monfort, Leonel Ovalle-Moleiro, Jon Paul Rodríguez, Kathryn M. Rodríguez-Clark, Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro, Erica Royer, Ada Y. Sánchez-Mercado, Bibiana Sucre.
- Finches ‘17 Convention.
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2017.
- Using spatial patterns in illegal wildlife uses to reveal connections between subsistence hunting and trade
- Ada Sánchez-Mercado, Marianne Asmussen, Kathryn M. Rodríguez-Clark, Jon Paul Rodríguez & Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski.
- Conservation Biology, Volume 00, No. 0, 1–11. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12744
- Language: English.
- Year of publication: 2016.
- Hibridaciones del Cardenalito de Venezuela
- Rosa M. Martínez-Espinoza y José A. Abellán.
- Ornitología Práctica. 80, pp. 58 - 62. ISSN 1696-7771
- Language: Spanish
- Year of publication: 2016.
- Globally threatened bird: Red Siskin (Sporagra cucullata)
- Chris Sharpe.
- Neotropical Birding 18.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2016.
- Recovering the Endangered Red Siskin
- Brian J. Coyle, Michael J. Braun, Kathryn M. Rodriguez-Clark, Leonel Ovalle-Moleiro.
- NFSS Journal, Jul-Aug 2013
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2013.
- Using Genetics to Understand and Conserve the Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata)
- Kathryn M. Rodríguez-Clark; Jesús E. Maldonado; David Ascanio; Emperatriz Gamero; Leonel Ovalle; Jorge Pérez-Emán; Michael Braun.
- Journal of the National Finch & Softbill Society, Vol. 28, Nº 4. Jul-Aug 2011.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2011.
- El Cardenalito (Carduelis cucullata) - Ecología y comportamiento en la Región Centro Occidental Barquisimeto-Venezuela.
- Antonio Rivero-Mendoza.
- Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Postgrado UPEL.
- Language: Spanish.
- Year of publication: 2004.
- Avifauna of the Guyana Southern Rupununi, With Comparisons To Other Savannas Of Northern South America
- Mark B. Robbins, Michael J. Braun & Davis W. Finch.
- ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 15: 173–200.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2004.
- Setting priorities for the conservation of Venezuela's threatened birds
- Jon Paul Rodríguez, Franklin Rojas-Suárez & Christopher J. Sharpe.
- Oryx Vol. 38, Nº 4 October 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605304000730
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2004.
- Discovery of a Population of the Endangered Red Siskin (Carduelis Cucullata) In Guyana
- Mark Robbins, Michael J. Braun, Davis W. Finch.
- The Auk 120(2):291-298, 2003.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2003.
- The Red Canary: The Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal
- Tim Birkhead.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 2003
- Threatened Birds of the Americas: RED SISKIN Carduelis cucullatus
- N. J. Collar, L. P. Gonzaga, N. Krabbe, A. Madrono Nieto, L. G. Naranjo, T. A. Parker III And D. C. Wege
- The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. 3rd Edition, part 2.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 1992.
- The Venezuelan Red Siskin: Case History of an Endangered Species
- Sadie Coats and William H. Phelps, Jr.
- Ornithological Monographs, No. 36, Neotropical Ornithology pp. 977-985
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 1985.
- The Raising of a Ghost - Spinus cucullatus in Puerto Rico
- Auk, Vol 100.
- Herbert A. Raffaele.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 1983.
- CARDUELIS cucullata. Hooded Seed-eater
- Swainson.
- Species first description.
- Language: English
- Year of publication: 1820.
Media publications
- Know Your Coffee Birds: Red Siskin
- Coffee & Conservation – Are your beans for the birds?
- Date: December 31st, 2020
- Language: English.
- Wildlife Conservation: Refuge for endangered Red Siskin songbird receives Species360 Membership Grant.
- Article written by Mary Ellen Amodeo
- Date: July 3rd, 2020
- Language: English.
- Heavily Trafficked Songbirds Have a Path Back to Resiliency.
- Smithsonian Magazine – Article written by Joshua Rapp Learn
- Date: April 6th, 2020
- Language: English.
- Saving Red Gold.
- Bird Conservation, The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy – Article written by Howard Youth, pp. 30-35.
- Date: March, 2020
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin Initiative Soars to New Heights.
- Conservation Nation
- Date: September 26th, 2019
- Language: English.
- Protecting a Symbol.
- Conservation Nation – “The dedicated folks at the Red Siskin Initiative are unflappable.”
- Date: June 27th, 2019
- Language: Spanish.
- "No one is helping us": Venezuelan conservation crippled by crisis.
- Mongabay – Article written by Nora Ward
- Date: November 14th, 2018
- Language: English.
- Coffee and Chocolate Could Help Preserve Endangered Birds in Venezuela.
- SmithsonianMag – Conservation Commons
- Date: November 05th, 2018
- Language: English.
- Venezuela’s Vanishing Red Bird Gets a Coffee Pick-Me-Up.
- The New York Times – By Associated Press News (Article written by Fabiola Sánchez)
- Date: November 01st , 2018
- Language: English
- 2017’S Top Lost Species Rediscoveries Spur Hope For Future Quests.
- Global Wildlife Conservation – “A faceless deep-sea fish. A moth masquerading as a bee. A “bitey” boa. A mop-topped monkey. These are the quirky features of some of the incredible lost species rediscoveries reported in 2017.”.
- Date: December 17th , 2017
- Language: English.
- Rare bird not seen in 60 years rediscovered
- Mongabay – Article written by Shreya Dasgupta.
- Date: July 27th, 2017
- Language: English.
- Lost To Science For 60 Years, Táchira Antpitta Is Rediscovered In Venezuelan Andes.
- The Cornell Lab Ornithology – Article written by Sarah Gilman.
- Date: July 25th, 2017
- Language: English.
- On this year’s Endangered Species Day, Smithsonian – Va. facility celebrates new births..
- WTop – Article written by Jack Pointer
- Date: May 18th , 2017
- Language: English
- Mantuano Chocolate “Cardenalito” (limited edition) arrived Venezuela.
- Viva el Cacao – Article written by María Ángela Valbuena
- Date: April 6th, 2017
- Language: English.
- A chocolate bar to save the Red Siskin..
- Viva el Cacao – Article written by Carmen Isabel Maracara.
- Date: December 21st, 2016
- Language: English – Spanish.
- Drink Coffee Responsibly, Save an Endangered Bird Species.
- Earth Optimism Summit | Smithsonian Conservation Commons: “Coffee progressives and enthusiasts have probably heard of fair trade certified coffee – a sustainable development practice that facilitates responsible working conditions for coffee bean farmers often marginalized by the industry. But how many people have ever heard of bird-friendly coffee?”.
- Radio Station: Onda la Superestación (107.9 FM)
- Author: Lauren Ward
- Date: November 21st, 2016.
- Language: English.
- The Red Siskin of Venezuela is disappearing.
- Blue Channel 24 – “About 60 years ago, Venezuela had millions of siskin, a bird of about 15 centimeters, red and black, endemic in Venezuela and printed on the 100 Bolivars bills. Today, there are only 3,000 approximately.”.
- Author: Kelly Vaquiro
- Date: July 02nd , 2016
- Language: English
- Sacrificing One Species to Change the Color of Another
- The Atlantic – “Bird breeders pushed a Venezuelan finch to the brink of extinction so that canaries could be red.”
- Author: Ed Yong
- Date: June 10th , 2016
- Language: English
- Speaking of science: Fine feathers: Why red birds look so fit and sexy?.
- The Washington Post – “For birds like the cardinal, red coloring is extremely important. The brighter the hue on a male’s feathers, the more likely a female is to take notice. Now two independent teams of scientists believe they’ve found the gene that allows birds to produce shades of red. And the identity of the gene might actually help explain why the color evolved in the first place.”
- Author: Rachel Feltman
- Date: May 20th , 2016
- Language: English
- The Gene That Paints Birds Red.
- The Atlantic – “In the 1920’s, breeders turned yellow canaries red. Now, scientists have finally found the gene responsible.”
- Author: Ed Yong
- Date: May 19th , 2016
- Language: English
- Trafficked tropical animals: the ghost export of Venezuela
- Author: Jeanfreddy Gutiérrez Torres
- Date: October 1st , 2015
- Language: English
- Red Siskin Sporagra cucullata
- Continuing our series on Neotropical birds categorised as Globally Threatened by IUCN and BirdLife International, Chris Sharpe discusses the ‘cardenalito’, a brightly coloured finch from northern South America.
- Neotropical Birding Magazine, 18
- Language: English
- Back from the Brink: Saving the Red Siskin.
- Smithsonian Institute for Biodiversity Genomics: Smithsonian scientists use novel genetic tools to help save an iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
- Language: English
