Brandt's Rosefinch

Leucosticte brandti (Bonaparte, 1850)

2012-06-01 Republic of Altai	© Ilya Ukolov

Description

Males and females of Brandt's Rosefinch are almost similar. Male in breeding plumage have dim-black forehead and part of crown, nape is brownish-grey, upper-neck and fore-mantle are greenish-brown. Back, rump and uppertail are plain pale-grey with slightly visible dark shafts of feathers. Sometimes dark color of mantle extends onto most part of back. Flight feathers are brownish with narrow white border on outer web; and with inner webs fluently lightened to border. Greater wing coverts are brownish but its outer webs are on ѕ of length is same color as back. Tips of small feathers of wing-fold have pinkish or pale-red edges, sometimes these pinkish edges are on rump too. Tail feathers are dark-brown with whitish edges of outer webs, on outer feathers these edges come to shaft. Underparts are pale-grey, undertail is some paler. Bill and legs are dark, almost black. Eyes are walnut-brown. On female upper- and underparts are usually paler, but some females are dark, not distinguished from males. Tips of small feathers of wing-fold are pale-orange, same tips (sometimes slightly visible) are on rump too. In contradistinction to male bill of female is pale or with pale parts in middle of bill. In fresh plumage (in autumn and winter) upperparts feathers have broad sandy-buff edges, which hid black on head. In winter bill is pale dark-tipped both on males and females. Juveniles are grayish-buff above with paler and greyer underparts. Tail and wings are as on adults. Sizes: males – wing 107-120, tail 68-78, tarsus 20.6-21.5; females – wing 103-114, tail 68-76, tarsus 20.8-22.4 mm. Weight: males 26.0-33.5, females 27.0-31.0.

Biology

Brandt's Rosy Finch is rare, in places fairly common resident. It inhabits upper part of alpine belt, where alpine meadows adjacent to moraines, stone scatterings, cliffs, glaciers (often over 3000 m). Finches go down to forage in low attitudes (down to 2600 m). In Zailiyskiy Alatau three nests found in cliff circus of Ozernyi peak on southern slope at attitudes 3800-4050 m in distance 80-2000 m one from another. Displaying and copulation observed in end of June. Nest is built in crack of rock or under stone, from moss, dry grass stems and leaves and is lined with hair and feathers. Clutches of 3-4 eggs founded in end June - early July. Both parents feed juveniles, flying to forage at distance up to several kilometres (may be more than 5 km). Juveniles fledge in early August. One brood per season. In autumn and winter Brandt's Rosy Finch lives in flocks sometimes up to one thousand birds.

References