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White-winged Snowfinch

A species of Northern and Southern Snowfinches
Scientific name : Montifringilla nivalis Genus : Northern and Southern Snowfinches

White-winged Snowfinch, A species of Northern and Southern Snowfinches
Botanical name: Montifringilla nivalis
Genus: Northern and Southern Snowfinches
White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis) Photo By Lip Kee , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

The white-winged snowfinch is a large stocky snowfinch at 16.5–19 centimetres (6.5–7.5 in) in length. It has brown upperparts, white underparts and a grey head. There is a long narrow white wing panel. In summer, the bill is black, and there is a black bib. The bib is lost in winter and the bill becomes yellow. Sexes are similar. In flight, it shows black wings with huge white wing panels, and a white edged black tail. This bird has a chattering song with many trills, and variety of rolling or creaky calls.
Size
18 cm
Colors
Brown
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
3 years
Feeding Habits
White-winged Snowfinch primarily consumes seeds and insects. It exhibits bold foraging behaviors, often scavenging near ski resorts. This species uniquely adapts to alpine environments, showcasing a diet suited to high-altitude conditions.
Habitat
White-winged Snowfinch, a high-altitude specialist, is predominantly found in alpine environments. Its ideal habitats span the barren, rocky terrains often incorporating cliffs, as well as the alpine meadows that sit just above the tree line and extend to the snow line. Common across broad mountainous regions of southern Europe and central Asia, white-winged Snowfinch flourishes at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 5,300 meters. Characteristically, white-winged Snowfinch may also be found in proximity to human habitations at these elevations, utilizing the infrastructure for shelter and nesting.
Dite type
Granivorous

General Info

Behavior

The white-winged snowfinch's food is mainly seeds with some insects. It is fearless, and will forage around ski resorts. It is hardy, and rarely descends below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) even in hard winter weather.

Distribution Area

It is a resident breeding species on bare mountains, typically above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), across southern Europe (Pyrenees, Alps, Corsica, Balkans) and through central Asia to western China. It nests in crevices or rodent burrows, laying 3–4 eggs.

Species Status

Not globally threatened.
White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis) White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis) Photo By Lip Kee , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
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