Crimson-browed Finch Carpodacus subhimachalus is resident south and southeast Tibet, south and west Sichuan, and northern Yunnan. BEHAVIOR & HABITAT Mainly coniferous forests, breeding to 4200 m (13,780 ft.), wintering to 1800 m (5,910 ft.). Moves slowly at all levels of forest, from ground to upper canopy. Often in pairs or small parties. Shy. ID & COMPARISON Male has scarlet forehead that may extend as an eyebrow. Scarlet throat and upper breast, throat and upper breast speckled pink. Scarlet rump and uppertail coverts, blackish wings and tail with reddish-brown edging. Underparts greyish. Male Red-fronted Rosefinch C. puniceus is larger and has streaked belly and flanks. Female has scarlet replaced by yellow and yellow-olive upperparts. Young males gradually turn from yellow to red, usually being orange in first summer. BARE PARTS Bill grey above, horn below. Feet brownish-grey. VOICE Chirps recall melodious Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Song a varied and shrill warble. — Craig Brelsford
THE ROSEFINCHES OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers all species in the genus Carpodacus in China. Click any link:
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
Scarlet Finch C. sipahi
Streaked Rosefinch C. rubicilloides
Great Rosefinch C. rubicilla
Red-mantled Rosefinch C. rhodochlamys
Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch C. pulcherrimus
Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch C. davidianus
Pink-rumped Rosefinch C. waltoni
Pink-browed Rosefinch C. rodochroa
Dark-rumped Rosefinch C. edwardsii
Spot-winged Rosefinch C. rodopeplus
Sharpe’s Rosefinch C. verreauxii
Vinaceous Rosefinch C. vinaceus
Pale Rosefinch C. stoliczkae
Tibetan Rosefinch C. roborowskii
Sillem’s Rosefinch C. sillemi
Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch C. sibiricus
Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch C. lepidus
Pallas’s Rosefinch C. roseus
Three-banded Rosefinch C. trifasciatus
Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch C. thura
Chinese White-browed Rosefinch C. dubius
Red-fronted Rosefinch C. puniceus
Crimson-browed Finch C. subhimachalus
See also:
Taiwan Rosefinch Carpodacus formosanus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
