Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus Scientific name definitions

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Crimson-winged Finch (African)

15–18 cm. Large, large-billed, long-winged , sandy finch with bright pink in wing and notched tail. Male breeding has lower forehead, lores and anterior cheek (to base of bill) dull rose-pink, forehead to crown black (black sometimes restricted to forehead), hindcrown and nape grey or greyish buff, rest of head light brownish sandy, finely streaked darker, with broad pale sandy supercilium (from behind eye); upperparts grey-brown with pale pink or vinous tinge, mantle and back with indistinct darker streaking, darker brown rump and uppertail-coverts; tail black, broadly tipped white (except for blackish outer web of outermost rectrix), pinkish bases of all outer webs (mostly concealed beneath uppertail-coverts) becoming whitish towards tips (except outermost); upperwing-coverts dull brown with dull pink edges, flight-feathers black with fairly broad bright pink edges and narrow whitish distal fringes, inner secondaries tipped off-white, tertials edged finely pinkish and tipped white or buffish white; chin and throat white or pinkish white with cinnamon tinge, narrow brownish-cinnamon breastband and flanks (lacking blackish tips), dull whitish mid-breast to belly and undertail-coverts; iris black; bill yellow, darker brown culmen and tip; legs pale pinkish brown. Non-breeding male in fresh plumage (autumn and winter) is duller, with pink areas on face replaced by dull sandy buff, this sometimes forming paler buffish band across mid-forehead; bill duller, greyish horn. Female is similar to male, but lacks pink on face, rump and tail, has crown paler earth-brown with indistinct fine pale greyish or sandy-brown streaks, less grey on nape, grey-tinged browner upperparts, rump and uppertail-coverts sandy brown with longest feathers tipped whitish; pink in wing much paler and less extensive, mostly on edges of flight-feathers (brown wing-covert bases more visible), and breast and flanks less heavily spotted/streaked with black; bill yellowish to dark greyish horn. Juvenile resembles female, but has head and upperparts mostly sandy brown, darker brown streaks on mantle and back, pink in wing paler and duller and confined to bases of secondaries, bill dark horn with yellow tinge; first-year similar to adult, but usually somewhat darker above and paler below.

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

15–18 cm; 32–48 g. Large, large-billed, long-winged, sandy finch with bright pink in wing and notched tail. Male breeding has lower forehead, lores and anterior cheek (to base of bill) bright rose-pink, forehead to hindcrown black, rest of head sandy brown, finely streaked darker, with broad pale sandy supercilium (from behind eye), warmer buffish on side of neck ; lower nape and upperparts pale buff-brown with rufous-brown feather centres and blackish shafts, lower rump and uppertail-coverts sandy brown, tipped rosy pink; tail black, except white outermost feathers, inners broadly fringed pale pink at base and narrowly tipped white; upperwing-coverts brown (with black shafts), broadly fringed pale pink, greaters blackish brown, broadly fringed pale pink and tipped brighter or deeper pink, rest of wing black, feathers broadly edged bright pink and narrowly tipped whitish, tertials broadly edged pale brown (or finely pinkish) and tipped buffish white; chin and throat sandy brown with darker tips (chin may also have some pale pink tips); breast like throat, but with larger blackish bases tipped pale buff-brown, lower breast creamy or whitish (may be tinged pinkish), flanks sand-brown with blackish streaks, belly to undertail-coverts white; iris black; bill yellow, darker brown culmen and tip; legs pale pinkish brown. Non-breeding male in fresh plumage (autumn and winter) is duller or browner, with pink on face replaced by dull sandy buff, which may form paler buffish band across mid-forehead; bill greyish horn. Female is similar to male, but lacks pink on face and on rump to tail, crown browner, finely streaked paler or sandy brown, upperparts browner and less heavily streaked, rump and uppertail-coverts sandy brown, tipped whitish on longest feathers; pink in wing paler and less extensive, mostly on edges of flight-feathers (brown bases of wing-coverts more visible), and breast and flanks less heavily spotted or streaked with black; bill yellow to dark greyish horn. Juvenile  is like female, but head and upperparts  sandy brown, mantle and back streaked darker, pink in wing duller and restricted to bases of secondaries, bill dark horn-yellow; first-year like adult with unmoulted wing and tail feathers, greater coverts blackish brown, edged buffish and finely fringed pinkish, tail darker or blacker, underparts often paler, with unstreaked breast and flanks.

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Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Until fairly recently treated as conspecific with R. sanguineus (1 Kirwan, G.M., Atkinson, P.W., van den Berg, A.B. and Shirihai, H. (2006). Taxonomy of the Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus: a test case for defining species limits between disjunct taxa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 136-146. Close ), but differs in its weaker shade of red on face, especially around the eyes, and reduced or no pink tips to uppertail-coverts (2); cinnamon-tinged off-white throat and soft cinnamon upper breast and flank markings vs pale chestnut throat, upper breast and flank markings (2); off-whitish vs purer white mid-breast to vent, with wider dark edging to outer rectrices (thus undertail does not appear pure white when folded) (2); softer, less obvious dark streaking on greyer-washed mantle and back (ns[1]); greyish-sooty vs blackish crown and uppertail (ns[1]); and longer wing (effect size for males 1.86, score 1). Monotypic.

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Inhabits bare, stony montane and submontane slopes and high ridges, high-level valleys, and dry rocky, stony and sandy plains and slopes above treeline, also areas with sparse grass tussocks or scattered herbs and junipers (Juniperus); mainly at 2400–3600 m in Morocco, to at least 1800 m in Algeria. In non-breeding season occurs in similar areas at lower levels and in foothills, including semi-desert (sandy and stony), low scrub in foothills, edges of cultivation and settlements, and borders of coniferous forest; generally down to c. 2200 m, but has been recorded down to 500–550 m in several places (see Movements).

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Breeds on montane and submontane slopes and in high-level valleys, open semi-desert areas of bare, dry rocky, stony and sandy plains and slopes above treeline, volcano craters, boulderfields and edges of snowfields, occasionally in alpine meadows or patches with sparse grass tussocks or scattered herbs, scrub, sage (Salvia) and junipers (Juniperus); usually at 1100–4200 m in N & E Turkey (occasionally down to 900 m in W), 1350–2500 m in Lebanon, 1900–2000 m in Israel, 1700–3000 m in SE Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, above 2700 m in Afghanistan, and 2000–3000 m in W China. In non-breeding season in similar areas at lower levels, including edges of cedar (Cedrus) and fir (Abies) forests, low scrub in foothills, and edges of cultivation and settlements.

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Altitudinal migrant; descends to lower levels in non-breeding season during Nov/Dec–Mar, at which season it may also move further S. Many descend to c. 2800 m in Nov, while others may be present all year at c. 2600 m. A few move to lower levels still, e.g. recorded down to to 1800 m in W Middle Atlas, to 1400 m on Plateau du Kik, 1300–1600 m in N Dadès-Draa, and to 500 m near Taza and in desert region near Oued Dadès, in Morocco. Little known in Algeria.

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Altitudinal and short-distance migrant; descends to lower levels in non-breeding season between Sept/Oct and Mar–May. Post-breeding family flocks wander over wide area within breeding range before pre-migration gathering; breeders from S & E Turkey occur more widely over C Taurus Mts, occasionally reaching W Turkey; those in Lebanon disperse to lower areas above treeline, and birds from Mt Hermon (N Israel) make short-distance post-breeding dispersal to higher levels before moving E to Syria, occasionally still present in breeding area into Dec; in Iran descends to plains and S slopes of Elburz Mts and N to Azerbaijan. Breeding birds from SE Kazakhstan occasional in winter in W Tien Shan, but most move S to lower plains of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan from middle to late Aug, return to lower levels in Mar to mid Apr and to breeding areas in May, males usually arriving ahead of first females; present throughout year in S Tajikistan, but more numerous in winter than in summer. In NW China moves to adjacent foothills, valleys and plains. Vagrant to Cyprus (3 Gökeri, B., and W. J. Fuller (2012). The first record for Cyprus of Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus. Sandgrouse 34(1):67–68. Close ), N Caucasus (N Ossetia), Iraq and N Pakistan (Chitral).

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Mostly small seeds  , and buds and shoots of grasses, semi-desert plants and alpine plants; also some insects. Seeds mainly those of families Chenopodiaceae, Boraginaceae, Compositae and Cruciferae; in the last-mentioned family, genus Alyssum (particularly A. granatense) appears particularly important, especially during the brood-feeding stage. Insects, taken mostly during breeding season, include moth caterpillars (Lepidoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and dipteran flies. Nestlings fed mostly with regurgitated pulp of seeds and insect larvae. Forages almost entirely on the ground , where it hops and also has unusual waddling gait. Pulls down long grass seedheads and stands on stem to extract seeds; hangs upside-down from plant stems. Forages singly and in pairs, and often in flocks throughout year; in non-breeding season forms flocks of up to 50 individuals, often mixing with Bucanetes githagineus, Linaria cannabina, Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) and Rock Sparrows (Petronia petronia).

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Mostly small seeds, buds and shoots of grasses, semi-desert and alpine plants; also some insects. Seeds and buds include those of honeysuckle (Lonicera), knotgrass (Polygonum), goosefoot (Chenopodium), sandwort (Arenaria), woad (Isatis), shepherd’s-purse (Capsella), penny-cress (Thlaspi), salvias, alison (Alyssum), whitlowgrass (Draba), stonecrop (Sedum), cinquefoil (Potentilla), sainfoin (Onobrychis), goat’s-thorn (Astragalus), bedstraw (Galium), hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum), alkanet (Anchusa) including blossom, forget-me-not (Myosotis), thistles (Carduus, Cirsium), goat's-beard (Tragopogon), viper’s-grass (Scorzonera), leek (Allium), sedges (Cyperaceae), cereals (mainly Avena) and grasses (Gramineae). Insects taken include larval moths (Lepidoptera), flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera). Nestlings fed mostly with regurgitated pulp of seeds and insect larvae. Forages almost entirely on the ground, perches on rocks, bushes (especially when singing) and roadside wires; hops on ground, and has distinctive waddling walk. Pulls tall grass seedheads down and stands on stem while extracting seeds; also hangs head down from plant stems, and sometimes digs up bulbs from shallow soil. Singly and in pairs, and often in flocks throughout year; in non-breeding season in flocks of up to 100 individuals, often associating with other finches and Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris).

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Song, mostly during May to Aug/early Sept, a quiet grating “tchwili-tchwilichip”, clear, soft and melodious, rather reminiscent of that of a sparrow (Passer), delivered from top of a bush or tussock or in flight; also, in undulating song flight, a rippling “turdel-edep-weep-ou” or more protracted “di-did-dle-de did-dle-de did-dle-de diu”. Calls include harsh chirping “chilip”, often given in flight; most frequent contact call a soft but musical “wee-tll-ee” or similar; in flight also a soft “chee-rup”, “tlweep” or “toik” and a fluty “dy-lit-dy-lit” not unlike similar notes of Woodlark (Lullula arborea). Individual variation in vocalizations of both this species and R. sanguineus is, however, considerable, to the extent that any true differences between the two species are obscured (2 Kirwan, G. M., P. W. Atkinson, A. B. van den Berg, and H. Shirihai (2006). Taxonomy of the Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus: a test case for defining species limits between disjunct taxa. Bulletin of African Bird Club 13(2):136–146. Close ).

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Song, usually between May and early Sept, from top of bush or grassy tussock or in flight, a clear but soft and melodious quiet grating “tchwili-tchwilichip”, like that of a sparrow (Passer); in undulating song flight a rippling “turdel-edep-weep-ou” or more protracted “di-did-dle-de did-dle-de did-dle-de diu”. Calls  include harsh chirping and disyllabic “chilip”, often given in flight; most frequent contact note a soft but musical “wee-tll-ee” or “wee-tell-er”, and in flight gives soft “chee-rup”, “tlweep” or “toik” and a rich, fluty “dy-lit-dy-lit” recalling similar notes of Woodlark (Lullula arborea). As with R. alienus, however, individual variation in vocalizations is considerable, to the extent that any true differences between the two species are obscured (2 Kirwan, G. M., P. W. Atkinson, A. B. van den Berg, and H. Shirihai (2006). Taxonomy of the Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus: a test case for defining species limits between disjunct taxa. Bulletin of African Bird Club 13(2):136–146. Close ).

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Season from mid May to end Jun (pairs forming from early May), occasionally later, fledglings seen early Jul; often two broods. Monogamous. Solitary nester, but sometimes a few nests (up to three or four) close together in a kind of loose colony, and can remain in small flocks throughout breeding season. Male displays in undulating song flight fairly high above ground (see also R. sanguineus); sings also from perch on rock or cliff. Nest a loosely built but neat cup of dry grasses, plant stems and fibres, sometimes incorporating animal hair, one in Morocco consisted entirely of very fine roots of woody xerophytic plants; placed in cavity between rocks on stony ground on scree slope, under overhanging rock or in similar site. Clutch size uncertain, probably 4–5 eggs, one egg measured 12·6 × 16·8 mm; incubation by female, period 13–15 days; chicks fed by both parents, in Morocco flocks mostly of males make daily early-morning flights to lower elevations to collect seeds for female and nestlings; nestling period 13–15 days.

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Season Apr to mid-Jul; often two broods, but only single broods recorded in Israel and Kazakhstan. Monogamous. Solitary or loosely colonial. Territory not well defined or well defended, apparently used only for nesting. Pair formation usually takes place in flock towards end of winter. Male display includes deeply undulating, circling song flight alternating between fluttering ascents (often to good height) and gliding descents, also rapid and erratic chases of female low over ground and male’s courtship-feeding of female. Nest built mostly by female, a neat, loose cup of dry grasses, cereals, plant stems and fibres and sometimes animal hair, placed on stony ground on scree slope, under overhanging rock, in lava or in crevice, grass tussock or thorn-scrub, occasionally in low bush, on cliff ledge or in wall of derelict house. Clutch 4–5 eggs, pale blue with small dark brown or purple-brown spots, mean size 21·5 mm × 16·5 m; incubation by female alone (provisioned by male), period 13–15 days; chicks fed by both parents, nestling period 13–15 days; young often leave nest before able to fly, and fed by parents for up to three weeks after leaving nest.

Crimson-winged Finch (African)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common or fairly common in Morocco. Status in NE Algeria unclear, appears to be rare and little known; possibly a scarce resident or summer visitor, having been intermittently recorded from mid-19th century and again in 1970 and 1980. In Morocco, no evidence of any declines and no significant threats identified.

Crimson-winged Finch (Eurasian)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common to abundant or scarce; uncommon in Lebanon and Caucasus. Turkish breeding population at least 100,000 pairs; population in N Israel (Mt Hermon) c. 30 pairs in 1970s and 1980s. No numerical data for rest of range. This species has a reasonably large range, within which it is not considered currently to be facing any significant threats.