Brown-capped Rosy Finch

Taxobox
name = Brown-capped Rosy Finch
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Fringillidae
genus = "Leucosticte"
species = "L. australis"
binomial = "Leucosticte australis"
binomial_authority = Ridgway, 1874The Brown-capped Rosy Finch (or Brown-capped Rosy-finch), "Leucosticte australis", is a medium-sized finch.

Adults are brown on the head, back, and breast with pink on the belly, rump, and wings. The forehead is black. They have short black legs and a long forked tail.

Their breeding habitat is mountain peaks in the central Rocky Mountains of the United States. They build a cup nest in a cavity on a cliff, or re-use abandoned Cliff Swallow nests.

In winter, these birds migrate short distances to lower elevations.

These birds forage on the ground, but may fly to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat seeds from weeds and grasses and insects. They often feed in small flocks.

At one time, the three North American Rosy finches were considered to be one species.

The population of this bird appears to be declining.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

* [http://www.focusonnature.com/North%20143.jpgPhoto]

Further reading

Book

* Johnson, R. E., P. Hendricks, D. L. Pattie, and K. B. Hunter. 2000. "Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte australis)". In "The Birds of North America", No. 536 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Thesis

* Shreeve D. F. Ph.D. diss. (1977). "Comparative behavior of Aleutian Grey-crowned and Brown-capped rosy finches". Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY.

Articles

* Banks RC & Browning MR. (1980). "Correct Citations for Some North American Bird Taxa". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. vol 92, no 1. p. 195-203.

* Hendricks DP. (1977). "Brown-Capped Rosy Finch Nesting in New-Mexico". Auk. vol 94, no 2. p. 384-385.

* Hendricks P. (1978). "Notes on the Courtship Behavior of Brown-Capped Rosy Finches". Wilson Bulletin. vol 90, no 2. p. 285-287.

* Hendricks P. (1980). "Reaction of Brown-Capped Rosy Finches Leucosticte-Australis to Banded Nestlings". Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 51, no 2.

* Johnson RE. (1965). "Reproductive activities of rosy finches, with special reference to Montana". Auk vol 82 p. 190–205.

* Johnson RE. (1977). "Seasonal Variation in the Genus Leucosticte in North America". Condor. vol 79, no 1. p. 76-86.

* Marti CD & Braun CE. (1975). "Use of Tundra Habitats by Prairie Falcons in Colorado USA". Condor. vol 77 p. 213-214.

* Shreeve D. F. (1980). "Behaviour of the Aleutian Grey-crowned and Brown-capped rosy finches Leucosticte tephrocotis". Ibis vol 122 p. 145–165.