Common Rosefinch

Common Rosefinch
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Passeriformes : Fringillidae : Carpodacus : erythrinus
Binomial name
Carpodacus erythrinus (Pallas, 1770)

The Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) is the most widespread and common rosefinch of Europe, where it has spread westward from Asia. Common Rosefinches breed from Sweden and Siberia to the Bering Sea; the Caucasus, northern Iran and Afghanistan, Pakistan and the western Himalaya, Tibet and China; to Japan between latitudes 25º and 68º. In winter they are found from southern Iran to south-east China, India, Burma, and Indochina.

The male has brilliant rosy-carmine head, breast and rump; heavy bill; dark brown wings with two indistinct bars, and a white belly. Females and young males are nondescript with yellowish-brown above, brighter on the rump and grayer on head; buff below.

They are found in summer in thickets, woodland and forest edges near rivers and in winter in gardens and orchards, swampy vegetation and locally in dry oak woods.

The nest is placed low in a bush and the five eggs are dark blue with coarse dark brown spots.