Pale Rosefinch

Pale Rosefinch
Pale Rosefinch Carpodacus stoliczkae beicki, male, loess hills (35.952194, 104.143822) by Lanzhou University-Yuzhong Campus, Gansu, China, elev. 1840 m (6,040 ft.), August. (Craig Brelsford)
Pale Rosefinch
Female beicki, Lanzhou University-Yuzhong Campus, Gansu, August. (Craig Brelsford)
Pale Rosefinch
Male beicki, Lanzhou University-Yuzhong Campus, Gansu, August. (Craig Brelsford)

Pale Rosefinch Carpodacus stoliczkae stoliczkae occurs in Kunlun Mountains in Xinjiang and into western Qinghai and beicki is in eastern Qinghai and southern Gansu. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Arid mountains, often on rocky, barren slopes; sometimes in ravines near running water. Can be tame, especially around water. No other rosefinch tolerates such arid habitat. In summer to 3500 m (11,480 ft.), in winter down to 1600 m (5,250 ft.). ID & COMPARISON Both sexes are very pale and largely unstreaked. Male has pink, white-speckled forecrown extending into a supercilium; crimson forehead, lores, ocular area, and chin; pinkish-white ear coverts, throat, and breast, with some white wash or spotting; fading to buff on flanks and belly. Crown (with slight blackish streaking), plain upperparts, wings, and tail darker grey-brown; rump and uppertail coverts pale pink. Female almost entirely sandy-brown, darker above and lighter below, with slight blackish streaking on crown. BARE PARTS Bill greyish-horn; feet grey-brown. VOICE Cheeps like a sparrow; cheerful, melodious song with some buzzing. — 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. synoicus
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.

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