Tibetan Rosefinch
Carpodacus roborowskii
Strapping long-winged rosefinch of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Male is dazzling, with a raspberry-pink body and a head the color of fine wine. Female is streaky gray-brown all over with a pale belly and yellowish bill. Like other plateau finches, forages on the ground solitarily, in pairs, or in small flocks. Found in rocky open spaces such as plateau steppes and meadows at 4500-5400 meters.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Carpodacus roborowskii
- Authority
- (Przevalski, 1887)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Carpodacus
Range and habitat
The Tibetan rosefinch is found in northeastern Tibet, in the Buckhan Boda Shan, Amne Machin and Kunlun mountains in Qinghai. These birds live among rocky steppes and alpine pastures, in areas with sparse vegetation. Because of its desolate habitat, the Tibetan rosefinch's range is shared with few other birds, aside from Brandt's mountain finch.
- Breeding range
- PAL : ec Palearctic in very high barren rocky steppe and near glaciers: Qinghai and ne (perhaps to se) Tibet
- Non-breeding range
- to lower elevations in severe weather
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Tibetan rosefinches are diurnal. They live mostly on the ground, traveling quickly hopping in search of food.<p>Tibetan rosefinches are ground feeders. They feed mainly on seeds, as well as fragments of flowers including the lousewort (Pedicularis).<p>The Tibetan rosefinch is mainly silent. Its call consists of brief whistling, along with louder trills, particularly in flight. It occasionally makes hissing sounds.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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