The dark-breasted rosefinch (''Procarduelis nipalensis'') is a species of true finch in the Monotypic taxon, monotypic genus ''Procarduelis''. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are boreal forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.

Taxonomy

The dark-breasted rosefinch was formerly placed in the genus ''Carpodacus'' but was moved ''Procarduelis'' based on the results from the phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences.

Subspecies

Subspecific variation is mostly clinal, with the plumage becoming darker from west to east. There are between two-three recognised subspecies: * ''P. n. nipalensis'' – Hodgson, 1836: The nominate, it is found in the Himalayas, from Kumaon division, Kumaon to Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and southeastern Tibet. Populations from southwestern China, south Tibet, and northern Vietnam are sometimes separated as a distinct subspecies, ''P. n. intensicolor''. * ''P. n. kangrae'' – Whistler, 1939: in the western Himalayas, from Kashmir to Garhwal division, Garhwal.

Gallery

Image:Dark-breasted Rosefinch Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary East Sikkim India 14.05.2016.jpg, Male at 12,000 ft. from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, India Image:Dark-breasted Rosefinch (Male) I IMG 3793.jpg, Male at 9,500 ft. in Kullu - Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Image:Dark breasted Rosefinch (Female) I IMG 3802.jpg, Female at 10,500 ft.in Kullu - Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India Image:Dark-breasted Rosefinch (Male) I IMG 7236.jpg, Male at 11,000 ft. in Kullu - Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India

References

Fringillidae, dark-breasted rosefinch Birds of Nepal Birds of Bhutan Birds of Northeast India Birds of China Birds of Yunnan Birds described in 1836, dark-breasted rosefinch Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Fringillidae-stub