Crimson-browed Finch Carpodacus subhimachalus is resident in southern and southeastern Tibet, southern and western Sichuan, and northern Yunnan. Mainly in coniferous forests, breeding to 4200 m, wintering to 1800 m. Moves slowly at all levels of forest, from ground to upper canopy. Often in pairs or small parties; shy. Male has scarlet forehead (that may extend as an eye-brow), throat, and upper breast, with throat and upper breast speckled pink; mostly reddish-brown upperparts (scarlet rump and uppertail coverts, blackish wings and tail with reddish-brown edging); and greyish underparts (lower breast to vent). Male red-fronted rosefinch is larger and has streaked belly and flanks. Female has scarlet replaced by yellow (throat sometimes whitish with grey streaking) and yellow-olive upperparts. Young males gradually turn from yellow to red, usually being orange in first summer. Bill grey above, horn below; feet brownish-grey. Chirps recall melodious tree sparrow. Song a varied and shrill warble. — Craig Brelsford
THE ROSEFINCHES OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers all species in the genus Carpodacus in China. Click any link:
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
Scarlet Finch C. sipahi
Streaked Rosefinch C. rubicilloides
Great Rosefinch C. rubicilla
Red-mantled Rosefinch C. rhodochlamys
Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch C. pulcherrimus
Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch C. davidianus
Pink-rumped Rosefinch C. waltoni
Pink-browed Rosefinch C. rodochroa
Dark-rumped Rosefinch C. edwardsii
Spot-winged Rosefinch C. rodopeplus
Sharpe’s Rosefinch C. verreauxii
Vinaceous Rosefinch C. vinaceus
Pale Rosefinch C. synoicus
Tibetan Rosefinch C. roborowskii
Sillem’s Rosefinch C. sillemi
Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch C. sibiricus
Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch C. lepidus
Pallas’s Rosefinch C. roseus
Three-banded Rosefinch C. trifasciatus
Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch C. thura
Chinese White-browed Rosefinch C. dubius
Red-fronted Rosefinch C. puniceus
Crimson-browed Finch C. subhimachalus
See also:
Taiwan Rosefinch Carpodacus formosanus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
