Brown-capped Rosy Finch
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| Leucosticte australis Ridgway, 1874 |
The Brown-capped Rosy Finch (or Brown-capped Rosy-finch), Leucosticte australis, is a medium-sized finch.
Adults are brown on the head, back and breast with pink on the belly, rump and wings. The forehead is black. They have short black legs and a long forked tail.
Their breeding habitat is mountain peaks in the central Rocky Mountains of the United States. They build a cup nest in a cavity on a cliff, or re-use abandoned Cliff Swallow nests.
In winter, these birds migrate short distances to lower elevations.
These birds forage on the ground, may fly to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat seeds from weeds and grasses and insects. They often feed in small flocks.
At one time, the three North American Rosy finches were considered to be one species.
The population of this bird appears to be declining.
One of the best places to view all three North American species of Rosy-Finches is at the Crest House as they winter in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. Visit www.rosyfinch.com for details.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Leucosticte australis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
