Streaked Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilloides occurs Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, with rubicilloides eastern Tibet to Qinghai and Gansu to western Sichuan; non-breeding northern Yunnan. Ssp. lucifer southwest and southern Tibet. HABITAT Breeds to 5100 m on plateaus and mountainsides with scattered, scrubby vegetation; also on grassy meadows. In winter to 2200 m. Sometimes seen around villages and temples. ID & COMPARISON Male has more prominently streaked and darker upperparts than spotted great rosefinch, is deeper red, has smaller, more distinct white spots on underparts, darker centers to wing coverts and tertials, and lacks pinkish-white quasi-patch on ear coverts. Female is similar to red-mantled rosefinch; more heavily streaked than female spotted great rosefinch, is darker above, has darker centers to wing coverts and tertials, and streaked rump. Nominate slightly smaller than lucifer. BARE PARTS Bill brownish-horn, darker above; feet brownish-black. VOICE Loud twink call recalls chaffinch; softer twe-tweuu more like a lark. — Craig Brelsford
THE ROSEFINCHES OF CHINA
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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.
