Dark-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus edwardsii rubicundus is in southern and southeast Tibet and edwardsii from southern Gansu to western Sichuan and northern Yunnan. Breeds to 4250 m (13,940 ft.), winters to 1060 m (3,480 ft.). HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Skulks on ground in undergrowth, often around rhododendron and bamboo. Often in small parties, sometimes with Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata. ID & COMPARISON Male has prominent pale-pink supercilium and throat, divided by contrasting, broad, brown eye-stripe joining brown nape side. Most of body maroon-brown, unlike all other similar species. Mantle and back broadly streaked; crown and underparts lightly streaked; uppertail coverts may show pinkish tinge, but rump is dark and almost unstreaked; blackish chevrons on paler undertail coverts. Has faint buffish tips to wing coverts and tertials; flight feathers and tail blackish with reddish-brown edging. Female has a buff supercilium and buffish-brown upperparts and underparts streaked black. Has faint buff wingbars and buff tips to tertials; flight feathers and tail blackish with olive-brown edging. Female Pink-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus rodochroa is smaller, more slender, and paler. Female Sharpe’s Rosefinch Carpodacus verreauxii has more striking head pattern, paler underparts (especially throat, which is also more heavily streaked), and more prominent pale tips to wing coverts and tertials. Males of ssp. rubicundus more strongly washed crimson above; females are darker, being palest on supercilum and throat. Sharpe’s Rosefinch (male and female) has more prominent wingbars and tips to tertials. Male Sharpe’s has pink rump and underparts. Male Dark-breasted Rosefinch Procarduelis nipalensis is darker above and on breast and has pink belly and only faint streaking on upperparts. BARE PARTS Bill brownish-horn, darker above; feet flesh-brown. VOICE Shrill twink call in singles or series; also softer and doubled twe-tweeii with second note rising at end. — 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.
