Black Rosy-Finch

Leucosticte atrataOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Finches (Fringillidae)

Codes: Common Name: BLRF Scientific Name: LEUATR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179222

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Overview

Black Rosy-Finch: Medium finch with black-brown breast and back, and gray headband. Belly, rump, and wing patches are pink mixed with brown. Forages on ground and in shrubs, grasses and snowfields. Eats seeds and insects. Swift bounding flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Black Rosy-Finch: Breeds in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to northern Nevada and Utah; spends winters south to northern Arizona and New Mexico. Preferred habitats include alpine tundra and meadows; during winter is found in nearby lowlands.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"cheep-cheep-cheep"

Interesting Facts

The Black Rosy-Finch builds its nest inside cliff crevices and on large boulders between the elevations of 10,000 and 13,000 feet.

Only three people known to recorded scientific literature had ever found a nest before Maureen Ryan attempted the challenge in the summer of 2002. Using geographic information systems (GIS) technology and strong mountaineering skills, the University of Wyoming student became the fourth – when she discovered a nest at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet in Utah's Uinta Mountains.

Their limited range and possible recent drop in population make it of conservation concern. In addition, there have been few systematic studies of this species because of the difficulty of accessing its habitat and nesting sites.

A group of rosy-finches are collectively known as a "bouquet" of finches.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Kavita Jhunjhunwala

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Black Rosy-Finch

● Song: "cheep-cheep-cheep"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black Rosy-Finch: Feeds on insects and other invertebrates in spring and summer; in the fall and winter, seeds and other plant parts make up the diet.

● Breeding & nesting: Black Rosy-Finch: Four to five white eggs are laid in a cup nest built in a hole in a vertical cliff. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Black Rosy-Finch: Other rosy finches show brown in plumage.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight with rapid wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Black Rosy-Finch: Breeds in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to northern Nevada and Utah; spends winters south to northern Arizona and New Mexico. Preferred habitats include alpine tundra and meadows; during winter is found in nearby lowlands.

^BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies

^PopulationUncommon and local

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.9 Ounces

Perching-like Body

Belly

The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.

Breast

The upper front part of a bird.

Rump

The area between the uppertail coverts and the back of the bird.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Black Rosy-Finch

Related Birds

Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips

Overview

Range and Habitat

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

Interesting Facts

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Artist

Black Rosy-Finch

Flight Pattern