Black Rosy-Finch

Appearance

Size: L 6.25″

Shape: Fairly small, deep-bellied, small-headed bird with a short conical bill and

fairly short notched tail. Long primary projection past tertials. Bill medium-length

among the rosy-finches.

Both Sexes: Breast feathers with blackish centers and gray to brown fringes; black-

ish forecrown; pale silvery-gray hindcrown extends to eye and contrasts strongly

with surrounding dark gray to black collar and cheek; little or no rose on belly.

Adult Male: Forecrown and body very black with bright rose on wings.

Adult Female: Forecrown and body feathers broadly edged with gray, creating a

cool gray wash overall; paler pink on wings. Both sexes have blackish bill in summer,

yellowish in winter (m. bill turns black sooner than f.)

1st Winter: Like adult but greater secondary coverts and primary edges mostly to

all whitish (adults pink in these areas); little or no pink on underparts.

Juv: (June–Aug.) Grayish-brown overall with pinkish to buff wingbars.

Natural History

From 1983 to 1993, Black Rosy-Finches, along with Gray-crowned and Brown- capped Rosy-Finches, were thought to be one species with the Asian Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte arctoa), but further biological and genetic study has shown that they are separate species

Taxonomy

Monotypic

Object of study

All vocalisations.

Known Range

This species’ range is centrally located in Mountain areas of the West compared to the more northern Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and the more southern Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

Flight Call

chew, as pert, pert, chew. seeer or zzeer call as well. There appears to be much overlap in the flight calls of the three Rosy-Finches.

Preferred Foods

Various seeds from weeds and shrubs, but also found at feeders in lowland valleys during the winter.

Irruptions

Is known as an altitudinal migrant in central areas of the Mountain West. Does irrupt to certain areas in higher numbers some years.