Gray-crowned rosy finch

Last updated

Gray-crowned rosy finch
Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Leucosticte
Species:
L. tephrocotis
Binomial name
Leucosticte tephrocotis
(Swainson, 1832)
LeucosticteTephrocotisMap.svg
Synonyms

Linaria tephrocotis Swainson, 1831 [2]

The gray-crowned rosy finch or gray-crowned rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) is a species of passerine bird in the family Fringillidae native to Alaska, western Canada, and the north-western United States. Due to its remote and rocky alpine habitat it is rarely seen. There are currently six recognized subspecies. It is one of four species of rosy finches.

Contents

Taxonomy

Female - Sandia Peak - New Mexico Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch.jpg
Female - Sandia Peak - New Mexico

The gray-crowned rosy finch was first classified by English ornithologist William John Swainson in 1832. [1] This bird has been thought to form a superspecies with three other rosy finches (also known as mountain finch): black rosy finch (L. atrata) and the brown-capped rosy finch (L. australis), all of which were classified as the same species as the Asian rosy finch (L. arctoa) from 1983 to 1993. [3] [4] [5] Recent mitochondrial DNA evidence shows the rosy finches are all indeed very closely related and can be easily confused with one another. [6] Along with one Asian rosy finch and two Asian mountain finches, the three North American rosy finches form the mountain finch genus Leucosticte. Alternative common names include: Roselin à tête grise (in French), Schwarzstirn-Schneegimpel (in German), and Pinzón Montano Nuquigrís (in Spanish). [7]

Subspecies

Six subspecies of the gray-crowned rosy finch are now recognized, though proposals for additional subspecies have been recognized. [7]

Description

Gray-crowned rosy finch L. t. littoralis - Mount Adams, Washington Gray-crowned rosy finch Mount Adams (Washington).JPG
Gray-crowned rosy finch L. t. littoralis - Mount Adams, Washington

Within the finch family, the gray-crowned rosy finch is medium-large with a comparatively long notched tail and wing. [9] [6] Adults are brown on the back and breast and mainly pink on the rest of the underparts and the wings. The forehead and throat are black; the back of the head is grey. They have short black legs and a long forked tail. There is some variability in the amount of grey on the head. Adult females and juveniles are similar. [10] Overall length is 140 to 160 mm (5.5–6.3 in), wingspan 33 cm (13 in), and weight 22 to 60 g (0.78–2.12 oz). [3] L. t. wallowa has an almost entirely gray head. [9] The Pribilof and Aleutian subspecies have a length of 170 to 210 mm (6.7–8.3 in) and weight of 42 to 60 g (1.5–2.1 oz), about twice the size of the other subspecies. [3] [6] The black rosy finch has a black instead of brown body and the brown-capped rosy finch is a lighter brown and lacks the gray face patch. [10]

Distribution and habitat

The ancestor of the three species of North American rosy finches migrated from Asia. [11] All rosy finches live in an alpine or tundra environment. The gray-crowned rosy finch has a wide range [12] and large numbers throughout Alaska, and western Canada and the United States. L. t. griseonucha permanently resides in the Aleutian Islands and umbrina on the Pribilof Islands. A small number of gray-crowned rosy finches winters on the mainland in South-Central Alaska and visits feeders there. The other taxa: littoralis, tephrocotis, wallowa, and dawsoni are found from the Canadian and American Rockies and migrate south to the western United States. [1] L. t. tephrocotis summers from Montana to the Yukon, while littoralis breeds closer to the coast, from northern California to west-central Alaska. [5] Due to its remote habitat, few of its nests have been found, it is rarely spotted, and the population is stable. [3] [9] They are invariably found amongst rocks. [9] The areas the subspecies breed in rarely overlap during breeding season. Males typically outnumber females throughout the year. [6] An individual was seen north of Boonville, in Lewis County, NY beginning on Sunday, March 4 through at least Thursday, March 8. This is only the second confirmed report for New York State. [13]

Behavior

Rosy finches are very environment-specific. In the summer their breeding habitat is rocky islands and barren areas on mountains from Alaska to the northwestern United States. These mountain breeding areas tend to be snowfields and rocky scree. [9] When not breeding they form large flocks of over 1000 individuals which are sometimes known to include snow buntings (P. nivalis), Lapland longspurs (C. lapponicus), and horned larks (E. alpestris), as well as other rosy-finch species. [6] [9] They descend in flocks as far as the fringes of the western plains beginning in autumn when the snows get deep. They return to alpine regions when snow is still deep in early spring. [9] They may breed at a higher altitude than any other breeding bird in North America. [4] [9] Due to these extreme breeding altitudes, they are very difficult to observe during breeding times. [4] [9] They build a cup nest in mid-June at a sheltered, hidden location on the ground or on a cliff and are monogamous. [9] They are known to use protected areas such as mine shafts and abandoned buildings for nesting. [6] Both sexes collect the nesting material of grass, roots, lichen, moss, and sedge, but only the female builds the nest. Lining material consists of fine grass, hair, and feathers. The female lays 3–5 eggs which she incubates for approximately two weeks. Both sexes feed the chicks, which leave the nest after 2–3 weeks. Chicks continue to be fed by their parents for about two weeks after leaving the nest in late July or early August. [9] A male will defend its female's territory during breeding season, not just the nest but wherever she goes. This behavior is common with the rosy finches. [6] [14]

These birds forage on the ground; many fly to catch insects in flight. During the summer they mainly eat insects, such as cutworms, that were caught in updrafts and frozen in snowfields. They also feed in the meadows near snowfields. [6] In the winter they eat seeds from weeds and grasses such as Russian thistle (E. exaltatus), mustard, and sunflower (H. annuus). When breeding, both males and females develop throat pouches, known as gular pouches or gular skin, to carry food to their chicks, [9] [11] a trait seen in only one other North American genus, Pinicola . [15] The three subspecies that live in mountain interiors have brown cheeks instead of gray cheeks. They show little fear of humans. [3] [9] They often feed in small flocks. Their call is a buzz-sounding "chew". [16] They can be approached to within 1 to 2 m (3.3–6.6 ft). [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark-eyed junco</span> Species of bird

The dark-eyed junco is a species of junco, a group of small, grayish New World sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. It is a very variable species, much like the related fox sparrow, and its systematics are still not completely untangled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-crowned sparrow</span> Species of bird

The white-crowned sparrow is a species of passerine bird native to North America. A medium-sized member of the New World sparrow family, this species is marked by a grey face and black and white streaking on the upper head. It breeds in brushy areas in the taiga and tundra of the northernmost parts of the continent and in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast. While southerly populations in the Rocky Mountains and coast are largely resident, the breeding populations of the northerly part of its range are migratory and can be found as wintering or passage visitors through most of North America south to central Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine grosbeak</span> Species of bird

The pine grosbeak is a large member of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is the only species in the genus Pinicola. It is found in coniferous woods across Alaska, the western mountains of the United States, Canada, and in subarctic Fennoscandia and across the Palearctic to Siberia. The species is a frugivore, especially in winter, favoring small fruits, such as rowans. With fruit-crop abundance varying from year to year, pine grosbeak is one of many subarctic-resident bird species that exhibit irruptive behavior. In irruption years, individuals can move long distances in search of suitable food supplies, bringing them farther south and/or downslope than is typical of years with large fruit crops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black rosy finch</span> Species of bird

The black rosy finch or black rosy-finch is a species of passerine bird in the family Fringillidae native to alpine areas above treeline, of the western United States. It is the most range-restricted member of its genus, and a popular photography subject for birdwatchers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown-capped rosy finch</span> Species of bird

The brown-capped rosy finch is a medium-sized finch endemic to North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-crowned kinglet</span> Species of bird

The golden-crowned kinglet is a very small songbird in the family Regulidae that lives throughout much of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby-crowned kinglet</span> Species of bird

The ruby-crowned kinglet is a very small passerine bird found throughout North America. It is a member of the kinglet family. The bird has olive-green plumage with two white wing bars and a white eye-ring. Males have a red crown patch, which is usually concealed. The sexes are identical, and juveniles are similar in plumage to adults. It is one of the smallest songbirds in North America. The ruby-crowned kinglet is not closely related to other kinglets, and is put in its own genus, Corthylio. Three subspecies are currently recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown creeper</span> Species of bird

The brown creeper, also known as the American treecreeper, is a small songbird, the only North American member of the treecreeper family Certhiidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warbling vireo</span> Species of bird

The warbling vireo is a small North American songbird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buff-bellied pipit</span> Species of bird

The buff-bellied pipit or American pipit is a small songbird found on both sides of the northern Pacific. It was first described by Marmaduke Tunstall in his 1771 Ornithologia Britannica. It was formerly classified as a form of the water pipit. It is known as "American pipit" in North America and "buff-bellied pipit" in Eurasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah sparrow</span> Species of bird

The Savannah sparrow is a small New World sparrow. It was the only member of the genus Passerculus and is typically the only widely accepted member. Comparison of mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and 3 sequences indicates that the Ipswich sparrow, formerly usually considered a valid species, is a well-marked subspecies of the Savannah sparrow, whereas the southwestern large-billed sparrow should be recognized as a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee warbler</span> Species of bird

The Tennessee warbler is a New World warbler that breeds in eastern North America and winters in southern Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The specific name peregrina is from Latin peregrinus "wanderer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln's sparrow</span> Species of bird

Lincoln's sparrow is a small sparrow native to North America. It is a less common passerine bird that often stays hidden under thick ground cover, but can be distinguished by its sweet, wrenlike song. Lincoln's sparrow is one of three species in the genus Melospiza which also includes the song sparrow and the swamp sparrow. It lives in well-covered brushy habitats, often near water. This bird is poorly documented because of its secretive nature and breeding habits solely in boreal regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville warbler</span> Species of bird

The Nashville warbler is a small songbird in the New World warbler family, found in North and Central America. It breeds in parts of the northern and western United States and southern Canada, and migrates to winter in southern California and Texas, Mexico, and the north of Central America. It has a gray head and a green back, and its underparts are yellow and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-crowned warbler</span> Species of bird

The orange-crowned warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolian finch</span> Species of bird

The Mongolian finch, also known as the Mongolian trumpeter finch, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-crowned sparrow</span> Species of bird

The golden-crowned sparrow is a large New World sparrow found in the western part of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock sandpiper</span> Species of bird

The rock sandpiper is a small shorebird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. This is a hardy sandpiper that breeds in the arctic and subarctic regions of Alaska and the Chukotka and Kamchatka Peninsulas. It is closely related to the purple sandpiper that breeds in arctic regions of northeast Canada and the northwest Palearctic.

James Edward Hepburn was an ornithologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcariidae</span> Family of birds

Calcariidae is a small family of passerine birds. It includes longspurs and snow buntings. There are six species in three genera worldwide, found mainly in North America and Eurasia. They are migratory and can live in a variety of habitats including grasslands, prairies, tundra, mountains, and beaches.

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Leucosticte tephrocotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. Swainson, William; Richardson, John (1831). Fauna Boreali-Americana. Vol. Part Second, The Birds. London, UK: John Murray. p. 267. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". All About Birds (life), The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". Birds of North America, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bna.559 . Retrieved July 3, 2011.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. 1 2 3 Wright, Rick. "Notes on Rosy-Finch Taxonomy, Distribution, and Identification". Arizona Field Ornithologists. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte tephrocotis". Montana Field Guide. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)". Internet Bird Collection. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  8. Murie, Olaus J. (1944). "Two New Subspecies of Birds from Alaska". The Condor . 46 (3): 121–123. doi:10.2307/1364278. JSTOR   1364278 . Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". Bird Web. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". All About Birds (identification), The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". Bird-Friend. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  12. "Gray-crowned Rosy-finch Leucosticte tephrocotis". BirdLife International . Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  13. "Feedback: Bird Watchers All Atwitter Over Rare Bird In Lewis County". wwnytv.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  14. "Black Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte atrata". Montana Field Guide. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  15. "Black Rosy-Finch". Birds of North America, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bna.678 . Retrieved July 4, 2011.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. "Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch". All About Birds (sounds), The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved July 3, 2011.

Further reading

Book