Colorful seedeater with an olive-green back, black wings with two yellow wingbars, and a mostly yellow head and underparts. Females and immatures are duller, with more brown tones and streaking. Found in open montane habitats including grassland, cultivation, forest edge, and heath. The song is a high-pitched, twittering jumble. Similar to White-bellied Canary, but found in different habitat, has bolder wingbars, and lacks a moustache facial mark.
