- White-winged Snowfinch
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White-winged Snowfinch 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Passeridae Genus: Montifringilla Species: M. nivalis Binomial name Montifringilla nivalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)The White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), or just Snowfinch, is a small passerine bird. Despite its name, it is a sparrow rather than a true finch.
Contents
Distribution and habitat
It is a resident breeding species on bare mountains, typically above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), across southern Europe and through central Asia to western China. It nests in crevices or rodent burrows, laying 3–4 eggs.
Description
White-winged Snowfinch is a large stocky sparrow at 16.5–19 centimetres (6.5–7.5 in) in length. It has brown upperparts, white underparts and a grey head. There is a long narrow white wing panel. In summer, the bill is black, and there is a black bib. The bib is lost in winter and the bill becomes yellow. Sexes are similar.
In the Swiss Alps in December showing winter colours including an orange beak
. In flight, it shows black wings with huge white wing panels, and a white edged black tail. This bird has a chattering song with many trills, and variety of rolling or creaky calls.
Behaviour
The White-winged Snowfinch's food is mainly seeds with some insects. It is fearless, and will forage around ski resorts. It is hardy, and rarely descends below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) even in hard winter weather.
Taxonomy
There are four subspecies. The darkest, M. n. henrici of Tibet and western China has earth-brown upperparts and crown, and greyer underparts. It is sometimes split as Henri's Snowfinch or Tibetan Snowfinch (M. henrici). However, Tibetan Snowfinch, confusingly, more often refers to the Black-winged Snowfinch (M. adamsi).
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). "Montifringilla nivalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2006. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/53095. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- Lei, F.-M.; Wang, A.-Z.; Wang, G.; Yin, Z.-H. (2005). "Vocalization of red-necked snow finch, Pyrgilauda ruficollis on the Tibetan Plateau, China – a syllable taxonomic signal?". Folia Zoologica 54 (1–2): 135–146. http://www.ivb.cz/folia/54/1-2/135-146.pdf.
External links
Sparrows (family: Passeridae) Genus Passer Saxaul Sparrow • House Sparrow • Spanish Sparrow • Italian Sparrow • Sind Sparrow • Somali Sparrow • Russet Sparrow or Cinnamon Sparrow • Plain-backed Sparrow or Pegu Sparrow • Dead Sea Sparrow • Great Sparrow • Socotra Sparrow • Abd al-Kuri Sparrow • Kenya Sparrow • Kordofan Sparrow • Shelley's Sparrow • Iago Sparrow • Cape Sparrow • Northern Grey-headed Sparrow • Swainson's Sparrow • Parrot-billed Sparrow • Swahili Sparrow • Southern Grey-headed Sparrow • Desert Sparrow • Eurasian Tree Sparrow • Sudan Golden Sparrow • Arabian Golden Sparrow • Chestnut Sparrow • Passer predomesticusPetronia Carpospiza Montifringilla
(snowfinches)White-winged Snowfinch • Black-winged Snowfinch • White-rumped Snowfinch • Père David's Snowfinch • Rufous-necked Snowfinch • Plain-backed Snowfinch • Afghan SnowfinchCategories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Montifringilla
- Birds of Turkey
- Birds of Pakistan
- Animals described in 1758
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