General

Common Rosefinch: Small, stocky finch with red upperparts and breast, faintly streaked brown back, and white underparts. Bill is dark gray and stout. Wings and tail are dark brown. Female is brown-streaked and gray overall.

Range and Habitat

Common Rosefinch: Found in throughout Western Europe and much of Asia. Breeds across northern Eurasia and winters across southern Eurasia. Rare vagrant to the western Aleutians and Alaska during migration. Preferred habitats include scrubby areas, especially near water and often near human habitation.

Breeding and Nesting

Common Rosefinch: Three to six light blue green eggs flecked with brown at larger end are laid in a nest made of grass and stems, lined with rootlets and hair, and built low in a bush or tree, less than 3 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Common Rosefinch: Eats seeds and insects in summer and mostly seeds in winter; forages on the ground or in shrubs and trees.

Vocalization

Common Rosefinch: Song is a flutelike "chEEro-VEEcheeo", with emphasis on second and fourth notes. Call is a gentle "djnee" or piping "twee-eek."

Similar Species

Common Rosefinch: Purple Finch has red over most of body and pale bill.