Leucosticte tephrocotis
(Gray-crowned Rosy Finch)


Order: Passeriformes
Order Description: Passerines
Family: Fringillidae
Family Description: Finches, Crossbills, and Grosbeaks

Physical Description:
5 3/4-6 3/4" (15-17 cm). Has brown body, pink on flanks, blackish forehead, and gray patch extending behind eye and over crown. Female is less colorful.

Similar Species- Other finches

Song:
A brusk tchew-tchew-tchew-tchew; also a chattering call.

Distribution:
Breeds from Alaska, portions of western Canada, and northwestern Montana, south through mountains to east-central California, Utah, and northern New Mexico. Winters from southern Alaska and portions of southwestern Canada, south to eastern California, southern Nevada, northern New Mexico, and northeastern Nebraska.

Habitat:
Found in barren, rocky, or grassy areas and cliffs, among glaciers or beyond timberline. During migrationClick word for definition and in winter, also found in open situations, fields, cultivated lands, brushy areas, and aroung human habitation. One of only 2 species in Idaho that nests exclusively in alpine habitats. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch is suspected but unconfirmed as a nesting species in these habitats in Idaho.

Diet:
Eats seeds and insects.

Ecology:
Builds cup-shaped nest on ground, cliff, or human-built structure. Males typically outnumber females in breeding and wintering populations. During breeding season, male defends "territory" around female wherever she moves. When not breeding, individuals form large flocks of up to 1000+ birds. Species forages on ground, gleans insects from vegetation, or may take insects from air.

Reproduction:
Female incubatesClick word for definition 4-5 eggs for 12-14 days. Young are tended by both adults, and leave nest at about 20 days. In Aleutians, eggs are laid in late April-July, clutchClick word for definition size is 3-6 eggs, fledging occurs at 15- 22 days, and female produces 2 broodsClick word for definition/yr.

Conservation:
Element Code: ABPBY02030
Status: Protected nongame species
Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4
National Rank: N5

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.


Design by Ean Harker ©1999, 2000.
Written by Jason Karl, 2000.