Common Rosefinch

Overview

Common Rosefinch: Small, stocky finch, red upperparts and breast, faintly streaked brown back, white underparts. Bill is dark gray and stout. Wings and tail are dark brown. Legs and feet are gray-brown. Forages on ground and in trees and shrubs for seeds and insects. Bounding flight.

Range and Habitat

Common Rosefinch: Occurs in the western Aleutians and Alaska. Preferred habitats include scrubby areas, especially near water and often near human habitation.

INTERESTING FACTS

First-year birds tend to disperse further than adults which explains why colonizing birds are almost always dull-plumaged (young) males.
A group of rosefinches are collectively known as a "bouquet" of finches.

The Common Rosefinch is the most widespread finch found in Europe, where it spread from Asia. Its breeding grounds are located in Sweden, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Himalaya, Tibet, China and Japan. In winter months, they migrate to southern Iran, southeastern China, India, Burma and Indochina. Preferred habitats in the summer include thickets or woodlands, and edges of forests with rivers nearby. In winter months, they prefer gardens, orchards, swamps and dry oak forests. They build nests low in the trees, and typically produce a brood of 3-4 each breeding season. The conservation rating for the Common Rosefinch is Least Concern.